USFJ-AFL playoffs July 16.0; Far East Regional Hoops Day 4.0

That was more like the Joint Task Force football team we saw in the first three games of the U.S. Forces Japan-American Football League season. Power running, occasional misdirection or clutch pass when it was needed and few, mostly inconsequential miscues.

"We had gotten away from what got us here," coach Darell Keith said of the Wolfpack's last three games, two of them losses which ultimately cost JTF undisputed home-field advantage throughout the playoffs.

So, the Wolfpack went back to what made them successful early on. Especially in the second half of JTF's 26-12 South semifinal win over Kadena, JTF took advantage of what was given them, didn't make the mistakes that cost it so dearly in the 18-14 regular-season finale loss to Kadena and took care of business.

Mike Geddie did it all from under center, running for timely first downs and passing efficiently, with three of his four completions going for touchdowns.

One thing about JTF receiver Joseph Huewitt: He simply doesn't like to be denied the clutch catch with somebody on him; his two TD receptions came with a Kadena black shirt draped all over him.

Credit Kadena for plays in the clutch as well, particularly Eric Lizarno, whose 51-yard catch set up the Dragons' second touchdown which kept the first half close. In fact, the teams matched each other touchdown for touchdown on four straight possessions until the Wolfpack pulled away in the second half.

Memo to JTF's defensive coordinator: You might consider trying a couple of different defensive looks against defending league champion Foster in the South final on Tuesday. Remember, the Bulldogs torched the JTF secondary for three touchdowns in the final 6 1/2 minutes of the teams' last meeting, a 20-13 comeback win for Foster.

From the fields of Camp McTureous we venture indoors to the hardwood, where U.S. Naval Hospital Camp Lester of Okinawa made more Far East Regional Basketball Tournament history on Thursday.

The Corpsmen became the first USNH Camp Lester team to reach the final of any Far East Regional Tournament in any sport since they were given the nod to enter those tournaments starting in 1993.

Robert Weaver's 21 points powered Hospital past 3rd Marine Division/III Marine Expeditionary Force 70-65 in Thursday's first semifinal. That was a day after Division beat Hospital 74-65, but with Hospital winning its third straight second half.

Not before this week had Hospital even won one GAME in this tournament. Hospital's softball team won two games each in the 1993 and 2003 Far East Regionals, with the 2003 team also losing four games by one run each, two in extra innings. And the Hospital volleyball team took one set off 1st Marine Aircraft Wing in the 2000 Far East Regional.

Speaking of Wing, all good things must pass, and Wing's three-year run as Far East Regional hoop champion came to an end Thursday when 3rd Marine Logistics Group reached its first final since 2002 by winning the other semifinal 66-62. Congratulations, Jelani Nix. A gallant title run it was.

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