Next-to-last stab at rating the Pacific’s high school boys and girls basketball teams and wrestling squads. Through games and dual meets of Saturday, Feb. 27, just prior to start of Guam boys basketball playoffs. Last ratings roundup following the Guam finals.
Boys basketball1, Kubasaki, Okinawa (27-1). Capped near-perfect season with second straight Far East D-I title. 2, Yokota, Japan (30-5). Overcame loss of Jamarvin Harvey to broken hand, didn’t lose after that. 3, Kadena, Okinawa (16-11). Solved every mystery there was out there, except Kubasaki. 4, Humphreys, South Korea (18-3). First league regular-season title for Blackhawks in any sport. 5, Guam High (16-5). Could advance higher if they can build on 10-game win streak to close regular season. 6, Father Duenas Memorial, Guam (16-5). As strong a Friars team as we’ve seen in a long time. 7, St. Mary’s International, Japan (17-8). Vaulted all the way to third in Far East D-I. Titans did what they normally do in February: Peak. 8, Seoul American (17-5). Captured 12th Korea Blue tournament title, fourth in Far East D-I. 9, Robert D. Edgren, Japan (17-7). Very quietly placed high in DODDS Japan, Far East D-II. 10, American School In Japan (11-11). Sixth in Far East D-I, handed Kubasaki its only loss of season. 11, John F. Kennedy, Guam (15-6). Won Taga Division, can still make hay in Guam playoffs. 12, Seoul Foreign (13-6). Right at the edge, waiting for one of Korea Blue’s top two to fall, which didn’t happen. 13, E.J. King, Japan (16-10). Fifth in Far East D-II, cobbled record together with precious little height. 14, Matthew C. Perry, Japan (18-11). Not quite on same plateau as last season, but still competitive. 15, Simon Sanchez, Guam (12-8). Came on late in regular season, could surprise come Guam playoffs.
Girls basketball1, Kadena, Okinawa (21-4). Finally solved the puzzles that were ASIJ, Far East D-I Tournament final. 2, Yokota, Japan (25-2). Did not lose once Kaliah Henderson found her way into the lineup. 3, Seoul Foreign (14-4). Korea Blue regular-season, tournament titles cap strong campaign. 4, Academy of Our Lady of Guam (16-0). Season complete. 5, American School In Japan (15-10). Captured Kanto Plain title, reached fourth straight D-I final. 6, Taejon Christian, South Korea (10-8). Second in regular season, Korea Blue tournament; Warnken gets MVP anyway. 7, Zama American, Japan (20-5). Came up short in DODDS Japan, D-II final to Yokota again. 8, Yongsan International-Seoul (8-4). A couple of steps behind SFS, TCIS in Korea Blue. 9, Notre Dame, Guam (13-3). Season complete. 10, Matthew C. Perry, Japan (16-12). Naomi Ziola, Samurai post best D-II finish since 2002.
Wrestling1, St. Mary’s International, Japan. Won five tournament titles, Kanto regular-season, tournament title, Far East D-I sweep, Outstanding Wrestler. 2, Nile C. Kinnick, Japan. A split of the D-I Tournament titles just wasn’t to be this season. 3, Kadena, Okinawa. Closed just behind Red Devils with third-place D-I Tournament finishes. 4, Kubasaki, Okinawa. Came as close as they’ve come to beating Kadena in the D-I third-place dual. 5, Seoul American. Ran the table in Korea, posted Top-Five D-I Tournament finishes.
