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Blackanthem Military News
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Last Updated:
Oct 11, 2008 - 6:10:10 AM |
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| Top Scorer Sgt. Evevetta Crawford, Camp Buckner, Okinawa, lays one up. Crawford had an average of 20.2 points per game during the tournament. Photo by: Pfc. Matthew E. Jones |
Blackanthem Military News, FORT INDIANTOWN GAP, Pa. – Inter-service competition has been around since the birth of the military, and it was alive and well at Fort Indiantown Gap during the Armed Forces Women’s Basketball Tournament. The Sailors/Coast Guardsmen, Marines and Airmen played their hearts out, but the Soldiers once again came out on top, winning all six of their games during the tournament.
The win allows Army to lay claim to 26 Gold Medals in the 30-year history of the event.
The tournament all-stars will go on to compete in the National Pro-Am City Leagues Tournament in Las Vegas from March 28-April 2. They will be competing against semi-pro teams.
This years all-star Soldiers are 1st Lt. Alonna Marable, Schofield Barracks, Hawaii, Sgt. Evevetta Crawford, Camp Buckner, Okinawa, Japan, Private 1st Class Shelly Jones, Fort Bragg, N.C., Spc. Jaci Bice, Fort Richardson, Ala., and Spc. Shan’tel Ali, Fort Sam, Texas.
The All-Tournament team (the starters for the All-Star team) includes Jones, Crawford, and Marable.
Following the Pro-Am tournament, most players will go back to their respective units until the trial camp begins again next February. During the trial camp, which the Army currently holds here, Soldiers participate in tryouts and 12 players are selected for the team.
The locations for the camp is usually the same, but the tournament rotates between locations annually, giving each branch a chance to host once every four years. The Army team is pleased to be able to host at Fort Indiantown Gap, said Leroy Williams, coach of the Army and Armed Forces All-Star team.
“We like practicing and playing here, because it’s relatively secluded and quiet,” said Williams. “There are few distractions and that gives us more time to focus as a team.”
This year’s team had plenty of time to hone their skills and bond as a team, because only three players had to be excluded from the 15 who tried out. More people usually try out, but the increase in deployments can make Soldiers and their commanders reluctant about committing to the program, said Williams.
However, “participating in the program is only a 50 to 60 day commitment at most,” said Claudia Berwager, Army sports specialist. “And it is very worthwhile.”
The program truly is worthwhile to Soldiers, because it promotes some of the very values the Army is based on, said Sgt. Chrishea Fisher. “It promotes leadership skills, character, competitive spirit and teamwork,” said Fisher, who came from Fort Sill, Okla., to participate for the first time. “It’s a great opportunity and I want my chain of command to know how much I appreciate their support,” said Fisher.
The coach agrees with his player’s sentiments. “Many Soldiers are deployed or conducting important training right now, but I’m very thankful for the talented Soldiers who want to participate and their commanders who make it possible for them to do so,” said Williams. “They obviously recognize the importance of morale-building programs like this,” he said. “Afterall, some people join the Army for this opportunity, and some people decide to re-enlist to continue participating,” he said.
One such person is 1st Lt. Alonna Marable. “This is a step above college basketball,” said Marable, who played college ball for Virginia State University. “Some of us tried and didn’t make it to the WNBA, so it’s nice to have all-Army sports.”
All members of the Army, including National Guard and Reserves, are encouraged to participate in Army sports programs, regardless of rank, job or location, said Berwager.
More information on Army sports programs can be found at www.armymwr.com.
Some information for this story was gathered from news releases written by Claudia Berwager, Army Sports.
ADDITIONAL PHOTO:
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| Private 1st Class Shelly Jones, Fort Bragg, N.C., drives past Navy's AE1 Rose Wood, NAS Whidbey Island, Wash. Jones was selected for the all-star team and all-tournament team. Photo by: Pfc. Matthew E. Jones |
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