Chris Carter of Okinawa's Spotlight puts up a shot over Greg Cummins of Japan's Camp Fuji during Wednesday's round-robin play in the 2005 March Madness Open Basketball Tournament at Andersen Air Force Base, Guam. Spotlight won 100-44. (Dave Ornauer / S&S)
Chris Carter of Okinawa's Spotlight puts up a shot over Greg Cummins of Japan's Camp Fuji during Wednesday's round-robin play in the 2005 March Madness Open Basketball Tournament at Andersen Air Force Base, Guam. Spotlight won 100-44. (Dave Ornauer / S&S)
Joshua Reaser (30) of Spotlight drives around defender Eric Gilley of Camp Fuji during Wednesday's game. (Dave Ornauer / S&S)
A.J. Hickman of Spotlight has the ball stripped out of his hands by Greg Cummins of Camp Fuji during Wednesday's game. (Dave Ornauer / S&S)
ANDERSEN AIR FORCE BASE, Guam — For Guam High basketball players Porsche Jones, Jackie Street and Jamese Slade, this week’s March Madness tournament is the best of both worlds.
Not only are they providing the host Andersen Bombers women’s team an inside presence, but the three hope the grind of a six-day tournament can help them prepare for the high school season, which is played in the spring on Guam.
“Playing adults is two times more intense than high school,” said Jones, a senior.
“It helps us increase our skills,” added Slade, a sophomore.
“They’re stronger and faster,” Street, a junior, said of adult players. “High-school ball is not as fast or as physical. And you have to think more. These players are smarter and more experienced.”
With Guam High and the rest of the island’s public and private schools off this week for spring break, the three Panthers offered to play with the Bombers at March Madness.
They were welcomed with open arms, said Andersen guard Pam Haley, mainly for their abilities inside; the three prep players, add some height to an otherwise short Bombers squad.
“They’re a great asset,” Haley said. “They add quickness, and we didn’t have any post players. They help out inside a lot.”
The Bombers were one of five teams entered in the combined round-robin/double-elimination playoff tournament. Three of the five qualify for the playoffs.
Whether Andersen qualifies or not, and whether the Bombers end up playing for all six days or just four, the high-school threesome say they’ll take with them an extra edge entering the regular season, starting on a date to be determined later this month.
“We’ll be physically and mentally prepared,” Slade said. “We’re getting in shape, getting psyched and getting prepared. And instead of them [adults] bumping us around, we’ll be bumping [other high school teams] around.”
Guam High returns four starters and seven total players to a team that enjoyed its best-ever season a year ago. The Panthers took third place in the regular season and made it to the league quarterfinals.
Jones left little doubt of her optimism about the team’s chances of winning their first league title in the school’s eight-year history.
“All the way,” Jones said without hesitation. “We’re taking the title this year.”
March Madness Open Basketball Tournament
At Coral Reef Fitness and Sports Complex, Andersen Air Force Base, Guam
Day 2
Men’s Pool A
Andersen Air Force Base A, Guam 4-0
Ace Hardware, Guam 2-1
Yokosuka Naval Base, Japan 2-1
Naval Station, Guam 0-3
Gamestoppers, Guam 0-3
Wednesday’s scores
Yokosuka 112, Ace 100
Andersen A 90, Naval Station 59
Yokosuka 91, Gamestoppers 64
Men’s Pool B
Spotlight, Okinawa 3-0
Andersen Air Force Base B, Guam 3-1
USS Frank Cable, Guam 2-2
KFC Dragons, Guam 1-2
Camp Fuji, Japan 0-4
Wednesday’s scores
Spotlight 100, Camp Fuji 44
Andersen B 96, KFC Dragons 73
USS Frank Cable 93, Camp Fuji 54
Men’s Pool C
Camp Humphreys, South Korea 3-0
Team Guam 1-1
Heat, Okinawa 1-1
Budweiser, Guam 0-3
Wednesday’s score
Camp Humphreys 2, Budweiser 0, forfeit
Women’s Pool
Osan Air Base, South Korea 3-0
Kunsan Air Base, South Korea 3-1
Camp Humphreys, South Korea 2-2
Bud Light, Guam 0-2
Andersen Air Force Base, Guam 0-3
Wednesday’s scores
Osan 66, Camp Humphreys 39
Kunsan 86, Bud Light 57
