Kunsan, Humphreys kick-off varsity basketball season

  • Published
  • By Master Sgt Claudette Hutchinson
  • 8th Fighter Wing Public Affairs
KUNSAN AIR BASE, Republic of Korea --  Wolf Pack Men's and Women's Varsity basketball teams kicked-off the season as they went head- to-head with Camp Humpreys Nov. 20-21.

The Wolf Pack Men's team claimed victory over Camp Humphreys scoring 76-52 on day one, and 78-76 on day two. However, the Wolf Pack Women's team lost scoring 51-57 on day one, and 43-56 on day two.

Although it is only the first game of the official season, Kunsan and Camp Humphreys have been battling it out since the pre-season tournament held last weekend at Camp Humphreys. The Humphreys' Women's Varsity team stepped ahead, winning the pre-season tournament.

Senior Master Sgt. Jerome Sydnor, Wolf Pack Women's Varsity Basketball team coach, said that during the pre-season men's and women's basketball tournament at Camp Humphreys, the women's team was double-eliminated.

"We won the first game against Camp Daegu; lost the second game against Camp Humphreys and finally got eliminated by Osan," said Coach Sydnor.

However, this first loss of the season by the Wolf Pack Women's team showed team members that while they have improved since the pre-season games, they still have more work to do if they are to triumph during the season.

"Our team has come a long way," said Coach Sydnor. "We hosted our first home game against Camp Humphreys, but fell short by 12 points on the first day and by 6 points on the second day. This is the same team that eliminated us by a lot of points in the pre-season, so we are really improving going into the season."

However, for the men's team Humphreys did not have it so easy.

"In game one we came out with a great deal of intensity, played at a quick pace. We opened up a lead and were able to keep it and finish the game strong, said Master Sgt. Charles Buterbaugh, Wolf Pack Varsity Men's Basketball coach.

Coach Buterbaugh said he credits their victory to a total team effort with guard Dion Moore, forward DJ Johnson and center David Edwards, stepping up to cement their victory in the first game.

For game two on Sunday, the Coach said Humphreys came out with much more intensity.

"They led us by 24 points with about four minutes left in the first half," said Coach Buterbaugh. "After we took a time-out, we made some adjustments on the defense to slow down their productivity and mounted a comeback led by guards Quincy Hall and Ty Wilson. They hit five critical three-point buckets, this helped us bounce back to cut the lead in half by halftime. "

Capitalizing on the momentum of the five three-point shots, which shortened the points deficit to close out the first half, the team came out strong defensively starting off the second half.

The patience of the offense, and passing to point guards Carlos Burns and Ty Wilson paid off, as they were able to knock down some easy buckets to even the score and eventually pull ahead of Humphreys.

That was all team Wolf Pack needed, once out the door they were able to hang on and clamp down on Humphreys' defense to roll into their second victory of the season, starting the season off 2-0.

"This was totally a team effort," said Coach Buterbaugh. "There is nothing we did as coaches that can instill poise in the team to allow them to come back from such a deficit. This was completely on the shoulders of the players. We have a great group that is continuing to 'gel' as a team and each member is learning to fulfill the roles we have asked them to play. I cannot say enough about our team. Coaches Master Sgt. RC Curry, Tech. Sgt. Felsia Jones and I couldn't ask for a better way to start the season."

Next the Wolf Pack Men's and Women's Varsity teams will take-on Camp Daegu in the Thanksgiving tournament hosted by Camp Daegu Nov. 24-28.