CAMP FOSTER, Okinawa – It’s the sort of repeat that Kadena’s boys basketball team would rather forget.
The Panthers committed 34 turnovers and were outscored 47-8 over a 10 minute, 5 second span of the first half en route to an 86-52 loss to Konan, a Japanese school, in Sunday’s championship game in the 5th Okinawa-American Shootout at Foster Field House.
“You have to take the good with the bad,” Panthers coach Ray Broughton said. “They’re a good team. They’re one of the best teams I’ve ever coached against. The speed and toughness were there (for us); it just didn’t go our way.”
It’s the second straight year Kadena lost to Konan, rated No. 1 in Okinawa Prefecture, in this tournament. But this was a far cry from the 60-57 heartbreaker the Panthers suffered last year. The Panthers opened this year’s tournament by edging Konan, 53-49, in pool play.
Kadena’s worst loss of the season against high school competition began competitively, with the Panthers leading 7-4 and dominating play underneath the boards in the first few minutes.
What turned the tide, Broughton said, was a Konan three-point goal which became a four-point play after a Kadena foul. It put Konan up 8-7 with 3:40 left in the first quarter and Konan never trailed again.
Kadena committed 16 of its turnovers during that 10:05 first-half span. Konan steadily built the margin, leading by a maximum of 40 points, 72-32, with 3:40 left in the third period.
“They’ll be fine,” Broughton said afterward of his players. “It’ll make us better.”
Jason Sumpter paced three Panthers in double figures with 19 points. Jaylen Street had a double-double of 17 points and 10 rebounds.
Earlier Sunday, Konan led Kubasaki in the semifinals by 22 points in the third period before the Dragons rallied to lead by as many as three points with 2:25 left before Konan settled the issue, 77-71. Kubasaki eventually beat Oroku, 65-55, for third place.
On the girls side, Kadena rallied from a 52-49 deficit and led by five points in the closing seconds before Kitanakagusuku came from behind to win the fourth-place game, 59-58.
