Zama's Asher Jorgensen and Michael King bottle up Yokota's Sebastian Flores. (Ashley Angell/Special to Stripes)

OSAN AIR BASE, South Korea – Sometimes, the seeds of a tournament title run are planted well before that tournament begins.

For Zama’s boys basketball team, the genesis of the Trojans’ repeat Far East Division II title run might have been their 53-47 quarterfinal loss Jan. 23 to St. Mary’s in the American School In Japan Kanto Classic, coach Sentwali Helton said.

“They were upset,” Helton said Wednesday after Zama routed Yokota 105-33 for its second straight D-II title and third overall. “They felt like the (St. Mary’s) loss was a fluke and they really wanted to show that they were the best team in Japan, hands down.”

On this Wednesday evening at Osan’s Cougars Gym, they certainly could say they were the best in Division II.

At 68 points, this was believed to be the largest margin of victory in any DODEA-Pacific Far East tournament final.

Behind Most Valuable Player Casey Stewart (15 points), Michael King (20) and Bruce Davidson (game-high 24 points), the Trojans, 18-3 on the season, burst in front by 18 points after one period and 38 after two.

Airi Smith added 15 points and Toro McClendon 12 as Zama put five players in double figures.

“It was a total team effort,” said Helton, whose Trojans beat the Panthers 79-57 at the same venue in last year’s D-II final. “Just them coming out and seeing the fire in their eyes, they really wanted it from the beginning.”

Aiden Jones had a team-high eight points for the Panthers, who finished 12-12 on the season. It was their fourth straight D-II finals appearance, but the last two ended in defeat.

“No passion. No Panther pride,” James Bailey said. “You have to give it to Zama. They know how to play. That you can say.”

Zama's Levi Schmidt drives around Yokota's Luke Harbert. (Ashley Angell/Special to Stripes)

Zama's Bruce Davidson readies to drive around Yokota's Corey Carpenter. (Ashley Angell/Special to Stripes)

Zama's Asher Jorgensen drives past Edgren defenders during Wednesday's D2 semifinal. (Ashley Angell/Special to Stripes)