Teen basketball players accused of stealing from Florida 7-Eleven — and their coach lied to protect them, officials say

Five teenage basketball players from the Washington, D.C., area are accused of stealing from a Florida 7-Eleven — and their coach lied to protect some of them, the Polk County Sheriff’s Office said.

The accused teens — all between 16 and 17 years old and hailing from Maryland and Washington, D.C. — are members of Run It Up, a travel basketball program affiliated with the Amateur Athletic Union, officials said.

The sheriff’s office added that the coach works for the Department of Juvenile Services at the Cheltenham Youth Detention Center in Maryland, ‘where his responsibilities include assisting and empowering youth.’

Their team was in the area to participate in the Puma NXTPro basketball tournament, and they were staying at a Solterra Resort vacation rental, which is less than