Kristia SuribenGirls basketball

E.J. King High School, Japan

Last week: Led the Cobras in scoring in both games as they opened their Japan Basketball League season with two victories at home against the Matthew C. Perry Samurai.

Just a week after capturing the singles and doubles championships in the Far East High School Tennis Tournament, Suriben scored 17 points in each game as the Cobras beat the Samurai 41-30 on Friday and 37-27 on Saturday.

“Kristia is a champion on and off the court,” coach Bridget Vertin said of Suriben, a sophomore who was selected All-Japan and All-Far East in the Class A Tournament last February. “She possesses such an ease and confidence on the court. There is nothing she can’t do. She raises the level of play in all her teammates. She is a huge asset to the team and the E.J. King High School community.”

Vance MaxeyBoys basketball

Kubasaki High School, Okinawa

Last week: Scored 29 points as the Dragons won their season opener Friday, topping Konan, the island’s second-ranked Japanese team, 112-107 in Okinawa-American League action at Kubasaki’s Dragons Den on Camp Foster.

Maxey, a senior transfer from Virginia, helped Kubasaki capture the Far East Class AA football title last month. At 6 feet 3, he’ll play small forward for the Dragons, who reached the Class AA semifinals last season, and teams with 6-5 senior Stephen Thompson and 6-3 sophomore transfer Tommy Fair to form one of the region’s tallest frontcourts.

“The PCS plane was good to us,” coach Chris Sullivan said of Maxey. “He has a desire to win, a great work ethic, he’s fundamentally very strong, hands up and moves his feet on defense. He’s a really strong addition to the team.”

— Selected by Stars and Stripes staff

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