Talk about a Panther of a different color.
Last year, Paul Floyd helped Yokota reach the Far East High School Boys Class AA Basketball Tournament title game. On Wednesday, the Guam High junior helped ensure Yokota’s early exit from the title chase.
Floyd contributed nine points while performing defensive shadow work on Yokota senior Antony Phillips as Guam High reached Thursday’s quarterfinals by edging Yokota 53-52 on Floyd’s old home floor.
"I love these guys here," Floyd said, pointing to Yokota’s players, then to Guam’s, "but this is my new school, these are my brothers, these are my boys. I’m a Guam High Panther now."
It’s only the third time Guam High (10-2) has reached the Final Eight.
"It feels great. I’m glad I could come to this school and contribute to what we’ve done so far," Floyd said.
"He’s stepped in and helped us out in all aspects this season, that’s why we’re where we are," Guam coach Joe Taitano said.
Phillips scored a team-high 17 points for Yokota, but he might have gotten far more without Floyd’s work, Taitano said.
Aaron Cosey provided the winning margin on two foul shots with 6.2 seconds left.
Guam found itself in a quarterfinal scrum in which any of the eight teams can win the tournament, director Tim Pujol said.
"One of the most wide-open tournaments I’ve ever seen," he said, calling Guam High and Yokota’s part of the bracket the "group of death" along with Christian Academy Japan and Kadena. "Perhaps the fifth-place game might be as exciting as the championship game."
Robert D. Edgren boys coach Mark Williams used almost the same words to describe the Boys Class A title chase on his home courts at Misawa Air Base, Japan.
Any of four teams — Edgren, Daegu American, St. Paul Christian and defending champ Morrison Christian Academy — are poised to win it all, Williams said.
Edgren began the double-elimination playoff by routing E.J. King 71-52. Mert Baysal got 17 points and Gerald Atkinson 14 points and 15 rebounds.
"Wide open. No gimmes up here," Williams said. "It’s going to come down to who plays the best fundamentals and makes the adjustments they have to make. Whoever does that stands the best chance of winning."
Edgren’s girls, third in pool play, also opened strongly in the Girls Class A playoffs, sending Yongsan International-Seoul to the knockout bracket 59-34 behind NaKayla Williams’ 22 points.
But for the Eagles to win their first Far East title, last year’s runners-up must get past host Daegu American and favored International School of the Sacred Heart. Eagles coach Sarah Richardson called the Symbas "beatable" as long as Edgren protects the ball when ISSH presses.
Of the four Far Easts, only the Girls Class AA Tournament appeared to have two clear-cut standouts, Seoul American and defending champion Faith Academy, which met in last year’s final and Wednesday beat their first-round opponents with ease.