Ramstein's Malik Cannon dribbles around Rota's Andy Drake during the DODDS-Europe holiday tournament at Ramstein Air Base, Germany, on Monday, Dec. 21, 2015. The Royals beat the Admirals 37-24. (Michael B. Keller/Stars and Stripes)
Ramstein's Malik Cannon dribbles around Rota's Andy Drake during the DODDS-Europe holiday tournament at Ramstein Air Base, Germany, on Monday, Dec. 21, 2015. The Royals beat the Admirals 37-24. (Michael B. Keller/Stars and Stripes)
Rota's D'Angelo Gallardo shoots a three-pointer during the DODDS-Europe holiday tournament at Ramstein Air Base, Germany, on Monday, Dec. 21, 2015. (Michael B. Keller/Stars and Stripes)
Ramstein's D'Angelo Griggs, left, races Rota's Luis Fuertes for the ball during the DODDS-Europe holiday tournament at Ramstein Air Base, Germany, on Monday, Dec. 21, 2015. The Royals beat the Admirals 37-24. (Michael B. Keller/Stars and Stripes)
Ramstein Royal Keith Little gets past Rota Admiral Jashaun Garrison for a layup during the DODDS-Europe holiday tournament at Ramstein Air Base, Germany, on Monday, Dec. 21, 2015. (Michael B. Keller/Stars and Stripes)
Rota Admiral Marc Magwood dribbles around a Ramstein Royal defender during the DODDS-Europe holiday tournament at Ramstein Air Base, Germany, on Monday, Dec. 21, 2015. The Admirals were defeated by the Royals 37-24. (Michael B. Keller/Stars and Stripes)
Wiesbaden Warrior David Williams gets a shot past SHAPE Spartans Charles Cobbs, right, and Zack Reed during the DODDS-Europe holiday tournament at Ramstein Air Base, Germany, on Monday, Dec. 21, 2015. (Michael B. Keller/Stars and Stripes)
SHAPE Spartan Austin Stephens tries to get past Wiesbaden Warriors John McKoy, right, and Caleb Brown during the DODDS-Europe holiday tournament at Ramstein Air Base, Germany, on Monday, Dec. 21, 2015. The Spartans defeated the Warriors 49-38. (Michael B. Keller/Stars and Stripes)
Wiesbaden Warrior John McKoy goes up for a layup during the DODDS-Europe holiday tournament at Ramstein Air Base, Germany, on Monday, Dec. 21, 2015. (Michael B. Keller/Stars and Stripes)
Wiesbaden Warrior John McKoy dribbles past SHAPE Spartan Isaac Yunevich during the DODDS-Europe holiday tournament at Ramstein Air Base, Germany, on Monday, Dec. 21, 2015. The Warriors lost to the Warriors 49-38. (Michael B. Keller/Stars and Stripes)
Ramstein Royal D'Angelo Griggs goes up for a shot as SHAPE Spartan Matt Hoover attempts a block during the DODDS-Europe holiday tournament at Ramstein Air Base, Germany, on Monday, Dec. 21, 2015. (Michael B. Keller/Stars and Stripes)
Fans cheer after the Ramstein Royals beat the buzzer with a three-point shot during the DODDS-Europe holiday tournament at Ramstein Air Base, Germany, on Monday, Dec. 21, 2015. The Royals beat the SHAPE Spartans 44-21, and won the tournament. (Michael B. Keller/Stars and Stripes)
SHAPE Spartan Matt Hoover passes the ball around Ramstein Royals defenders Mitchell McKinney, right, and Nick Bautista during the DODDS-Europe holiday tournament at Ramstein Air Base, Germany, on Monday, Dec. 21, 2015. (Michael B. Keller/Stars and Stripes)
Ramstein Royal Brendan Hicks gets a rebound during the DODDS-Europe holiday tournament at Ramstein Air Base, Germany, on Monday, Dec. 21, 2015. The Royals beat the SHAPE Spartans 44-21. (Michael B. Keller/Stars and Stripes)
SHAPE Spartan Cameron Little, right, dribbles past Ramstein Royal D'Angleo Griggs during the DODDS-Europe holiday tournament at Ramstein Air Base, Germany, on Monday, Dec. 21, 2015. The Spartans were defeated by the Royals 44-21, and took the runner-up spot for the tournament. (Michael B. Keller/Stars and Stripes)
Ramstein Royal Sid Boggs, right, tries to block SHAPE Spartan Austin Stephens during the DODDS-Europe holiday tournament at Ramstein Air Base, Germany, on Monday, Dec. 21, 2015. The Royals beat the Spartans 49-38, and won the tournament. (Michael B. Keller/Stars and Stripes)
RAMSTEIN, Germany — With Christmas approaching, perhaps it’s not such a surprise that the spirit of giving was on such abundant display at the annual DODDS-Europe boys’ basketball holiday tournament, held Dec. 19-21 at Kaiserslautern and Ramstein High Schools in Germany.
Host Ramstein ran rampant through the field, culminating with a balanced 44-21 win against SHAPE in the championship game.
“This is my 11th year here and this is the most unselfish team I’ve ever had,” coach Andrew O’Connor said. “They just don’t care who takes the credit, they work well together, they love playing basketball, and it’s really infectious to be around that spirit.”
The Royals are 3-0 in regular season play and will look to use their performance in the tournament to catapult them to a second straight title. In their game against a strong SHAPE squad, their defense held the opposition to only nine points in the first half.
“Our chemistry is coming together really well, we play great together,” said Royals guard/forward T.J. Williams. “Our defense is amazing, that’s our strength right now.”
The tournament games don’t count toward the regular-season standings, but each of the teams in attendance were able to get some much-needed time to gel before the bulk of the European schedule.
“This is invaluable experience, we got seven games in this week,” said SHAPE head coach John Leipheimer. “That’s over half the games in the regular season just in one weekend.”
In addition to Ramstein and SHAPE, other teams in attendance were fellow Div. I schools Kaiserslautern, Lakenheath, and Wiesbaden, along with Division II Rota and Bitburg. All benefitted from the extra games, Leipheimer said.
“You can see tendencies that your team has, weaknesses they have, that otherwise you might not see until late January and now you’re seeing them before Christmas,” he said. “It really helps, and all the teams have said that.”
After their weekend exertions, players, coaches and fans will take a well-earned breather before regular season play begins again on Jan. 8, 2016.
SHAPE senior guard Austin Stephens, among the tournament’s standouts, was even able to do some late holiday shopping at the new Ramstein PX before heading back to Belgium.
“I’m looking forward to laying down and not thinking about basketball and school,” he said, “and just relaxing with my family.”
ScoresSaturday at Ramstein
Lakenheath 21, SHAPE 44 Bitburg 2, Ramstein 41 Kaiserslautern 31, Wiesbaden 39 Rota 50, Lakenheath 33 Ramstein 61, Kaiserslautern 21 SHAPE 48, Rota 41 Wiesbaden 57, Bitburg 25
Sunday at Kaiserslautern
Rota 35, Kaiserslautern 34 Bitburg 15, SHAPE 39 SHAPE 34, Kaiserslautern 32Sunday at Ramstein Ramstein 51, Lakenheath 11 Ramstein 47, Wiesbaden 35 Wiesbaden 47, Lakenheath 18
Monday at Kaiserslautern
Kaiserslautern 44, Lakenheath 42 Kaiserslautern 37, Bitburg 16 Bitburg 33, Lakenheath 27
Monday at Ramstein
SHAPE 24, Ramstein 41 Rota 41, Wiesbaden 40 Ramstein 37, Rota 24 Wiesbaden 38, SHAPE 49
Championship
Ramstein 44, SHAPE 21
