They talked the talk and walked the walk.

Last year, the Roundball Brainiacs were called “promise keepers” for the way they backed up their claims with a 84-70 win over the White Coats in the sixth annual Hoops for Kids basketball game.

But that was last year, and with this year’s Boys and Girls Club of the Sandhills fundraiser on tap for tonight, the question is this: Can the Moore County school system team make the promise of a second straight title over the team of doctors and FirstHealth employees a reality?

The Brainiacs sure hope so, after the coveted championship trophy — which features a cast on top — was displayed proudly at the Moore County school system’s central office for a year.

It was the Brainiacs’ first title in two tries since joining the cause of raising $10,000 annually for the local Boys and Girls Club in 2008. The three games prior to that, a team of doctors competed against a team of FirstHealth of the Carolinas employees for the trophy.

But the goal of a second straight title might be easier promised than accomplished, with the White Coats getting back a healthy Dr. Ray Washington. A former St. Joseph’s University point guard, Washington, who doubles as coach for the White Coats, played limited minutes due to injury in last year’s game.

The 14-point Brainiacs win, which came almost a year to the date of this year’s affair, was closer than the final score might indictate.

The Brainiacs took a 55-43 lead into the final period, after Pinecrest coach Larry Shields made a three-pointer from halfcourt at the buzzer. But the White Coats opened the fourth quarter on a 13-4 run to cut the deficit to 59-56.

The educators answered with an 8-0 run of their own that pushed the lead back to 67-56 with 4:55 to play. They never let the White Coats get closer than a five-point deficit for the duration of the game and punctuated the win with an emphatic dunk from Larry Alford as the clock ticked down.

While the competitive nature of the two sides and their perpetual battle for bragging rights is what makes the game fun and exciting, what makes the game truly special is that it’s all for a good cause.

According to Boys and Girls Club of the Sandhills director of operations Brandon Kivett, much of the organization’s budget is made up of individual and business contributions, federal grants and support from the United Way.

“It’s a great fundraiser for us, especially in hard times,” he said, adding that the local youths his organization services will play a prominent role in Thursday’s festivities.

“The kids really enjoyed it last year,” said Kivett. “They’ve been talking all year about when they’ll be able to do it again.”

The doors to Pinecrest High School’s James Moore Gymnasium will open at 5:30 p.m., with the basketball starting 30 minutes later with an exhibition game featuring school principals and administrators versus Boys and Girls Club members. The featured match-up of the Brainiacs versus the White Coats is scheduled for a 6:30 p.m. tip.

Ticket holders are eligible to win door prizes, including a 32-inch flatscreen television for which the winner need not be present to claim.