Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland, Texas –
Second round of the 2017 Armed Forces Men’s and Women’s Basketball Championship kicked off on 4 November at the Chaparral Fitness Center at Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland, Texas. Air Force women and Navy men provided the upsets, as Army swept both men and women games against Marine Corps.
On the women’s side, Navy and Air Force fought tooth and nail with Air Force registering the win. Navy was unbeaten in round one of tournament, but Air Force had other plans as they bounced back to hand Navy their first loss winning 69-64. Navy still holds the top spot with a 3-1 record after day-four.
In earlier action, Army handed the Marines a 95-37 loss. 2nd lt. Kiana Doliveira of Fort Carson, Colo. scored 15-points and pulled in 12 rebounds in Army’s win. Lance Cpl. Vella Jackson of MCB Camp Pendleton, Calif. posted 18-points for the Marines.
Navy and Air Force men’s evening finale did not disappoint. Navy led 57-42 at halftime, then Air Force turned the afterburners on forcing a lead change at 13:30 mark, with the score at 64-63.
In a game where the lead changed nine times, Navy registered their first win of the tournament pulling ahead of the Air Force with a little over one minute left in the game to win 103-98.
Nine total players from both teams scored double-digits. Navy’s Seaman Deonte Jones of the USS Essex and Petty Officer 3rd Class Troy Snyder of Yokosukua, Japan led Navy with 21-points each. Air Force Senior Airman Darian Donald of Misawa Air Base, Japan led the game with 24-points.
After round-one, Army, Air Force and Marines were tied each with a 2-1 record. Army pulled ahead with a 87-55 victory over Marines.
Army had four players in double-digits, with Sgt. Tyronne Beale of Fort Carson, Colo. leading the boards with 20-points. Marine 1st Lt. Kevin Alter knocked down 15-points for the Marines.
Army still remains at the top of the men’s standings. With Air Force’s loss, the Marine Corps jumps into second place.
Day five of the 2017 Armed Forces Basketball Championship continues on 5 November with Marine Corps up against Navy and Air Force takes on Army.
The Armed Forces Basketball Championship is played in a double round-robin format for seeding, with the top-two teams advancing to the championship game.
Follow the complete coverage at www.armedforcessports.defense.gov.