Some things we've seen, learned so far this winter sports season
Published: December 9, 2009
Musings, mutterings and the occasional schmahts as Ornauer wonders if he'll have to give in to the elements and wear jeans during the Osan Pacificwide Holiday Basketball Tournament:
-- THE place to be Friday night? Yokosuka Naval Base, Japan, where Christian Academy In Japan, 5-0, meets equally unbeaten Nile C. Kinnick. Who to watch for? Miles Peterson, CAJ's senior post player, who torched defending Class AA champion St. Mary's International for 33 points and 21 boards in the Knights' 66-50 victory Tuesday -- CAJ's first Kanto Plain Association of Secondary Schools victory in three years. Kinnick doesn't have Peterson's height; this might resemble Kareem vs. five Spud Webbs.
-- From what I saw in a preseason scrimmage a week ago, Kadena's wrestling team from 101 to heavyweight has the potential to be the best team I've seen since Kubasaki won the Far East tournament team title and six gold medals in 1985. One opposing athletics director is already referring to Kadena's top weights, Tyler Broome at 180, Aaron Ahner at 215 and Gabe Ahner at heavyweight, as "Murderers' Row."
-- Kadena's boys basketball team also appears primed for a deep run at an unbeaten season. So far, 11-0. Perhaps the Twin Towers, Jason Sumpter and Jeremy Howell, and CAJ's Peterson are on a collision course?
-- Shannon Jackson is one very dangerous fourth-quarter weapon for Nile C. Kinnick's girls basketball team. Fresh off earning Far East Class AA Tournament honors in volleyball, Jackson has averaged 15 points in the fourth quarter of the last three games the Red Devils have played, all victories.
-- Don't look now, but that's Crystal Valentine and Zama American atop the DODEA Japan girls standings. Looks like the Trojans are aiming to make some serious noise on their home courts at the Yano Fitness Center during February's Class AA Tournament, which Zama hosts for the second straight year.
75 days.
