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CAMP WALKER, South Korea – After losing for the only time this season a week earlier, Humphreys’ boys basketball team flipped the narrative and captured the DODEA-Korea tournament title Saturday.

Ta’Quan Townsend scored nine of his 16 points in the third quarter for the Blackhawks, who outscored the Cougars 18-6 in the first quarter and this time held on for a 58-49 triumph.

“Sooner or later, overconfidence meets reality and a correction occurs,” Humphreys coach Ron Merriwether said of the difference between last Saturday’s regular-season finale, a 67-64 Osan win, and Saturday’s tournament final.

“We weren’t at our best last week,” he said. “They’re (Osan) the more experienced team. The kids needed to learn from their mistakes and correct them.”

He had the Blackhawks back in the gym practicing early Monday, adjusting and correcting what wrong last week. “It wasn’t a Far East championship, but I coached them in that game as if it was,” Merriwether said.

Amare Kinsey chipped in with 11 points for the Blackhawks, who held Cougars senior Jaylon Grant to just seven. Gavin Lunn of Osan led all scorers with 21 points and Brandon Edmunds had 11 of his 13 in the second half.

The Cougars didn’t have the same fire in the fourth quarter Saturday as they did when outscoring the Blackhawks 28-13 last week, Osan assistant coach Tim McArthur said.

“Maybe the guys were content with the victory. We just couldn’t seem to bring the energy that we brought last week,” McArthur said. Missing 26 of 37 free-throw attempts “also hurt us.”

Humphreys matmen also capture title

CAMP HUMPHREYS, South Korea – Humphreys rallied in the last three bouts to capture the DODEA-Korea wrestling title Saturday at home, completing a sweep of all three district winter-season sports tournaments. Humphreys Black won the girls basketball title Friday.

The Blackhawks edged the Cougars 33-30 in Saturday’s dual final. Ikaika Mendoza beat Osan’s Ethan Hoback by technical fall at 180 pounds, Levi Ramos won by decision over Samuel Myrup at 215 and Ethan Elliott closed the deal by pinning Yun Song at heavyweight.

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Dave Ornauer has been employed by or assigned to Stars and Stripes Pacific almost continuously since March 5, 1981. He covers interservice and high school sports at DODEA-Pacific schools and manages the Pacific Storm Tracker.

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