Yokota's Jai Bailey, the tournament MVP, shoots against Perry's Jahiion Francois and B.J. Hill. (Dave Ornauer/Stars and Stripes)
CAMP ZAMA, Japan – Braedan Raybon watched nine senior teammates cruise last year to Yokota’s third Far East Boys Division II Basketball Tournament title and told himself he hoped his turn would come in 2024.
Now a senior himself, Raybon caught fire in the third period of Wednesday’s D-II final against Matthew C. Perry. He had eight of his 15 points in the quarter, helping the Panthers pull away for a 70-47 triumph and their second straight small-schools tournament title.
“I dreamed of doing the same thing,” Raybon said. “I went from being a swing player with bad knees onto the varsity … I saw the opportunity and I took it.”
Sergio Giddens added 23 points and tournament Most Valuable Player Jai Bailey added 14 for Yokota.
It was the second straight D-II title for the Panthers, who also won back-to-back championships in 2015 and 2016. That goes with the Division I crowns Yokota won when it was classified a large school in 1976 and 2006.
And the mastermind behind Yokota’s two straight titles wasn’t even supposed to be coaching the Panthers this season. Dan Galvin had said last Feb. 1 that he was stepping down, but changed his mind as the season approached.
“I’ve learned never to say never again,” Galvin said, only half jokingly.
Yokota's Braedan Raybon shoots against Perry's Kameron Ramos. (Dave Ornauer/Stars and Stripes)
Perry's Sam Kasperski comes down with a rebound in front of Yokota's Braedan Raybon. (Dave Ornauer/Stars and Stripes)
Perry's Jahiion Francoi skies to shoot over Yokota's Sergio Giddens and Jai Bailey. (Dave Ornauer/Stars and Stripes)
Perry's B.J. Hill drives against Yokota's Jai Bailey. (Dave Ornauer/Stars and Stripes)
The Panthers finished 18-11 and won the final by almost the same margin as the last time the Samurai and Yokota played each other, 72-48 on Jan. 13. Perry finished 17-8.
“They really put it together in the last couple of weeks,” Galvin said, citing players such as Bailey, three-year starting guard Royce Canta, Raybon and others. “Royce has been the glue for us. Sergio has been big for us and Jai has been great for us all season.”
B.J. Hill had 12 of his 17 points in the first quarter and the Samurai broke out of the gate quickly, taking a 6-0 lead. But the Panthers stormed back and kept it close through the rest of the first half, in which there were eight lead changes.
Then Raybon happened. Yokota outscored Perry 20-8 in the third period and the game was never close again. Jahiion Francois finished with 16 points for the Samurai.
“We brought back many of our players and we had a good 1-2 punch in Hill and Francois,” Samurai coach Daniel Burns said. “Unfortunately, we ran out of gas. But I’m proud of them.”
