Sabers hosts USAFE championship

  • Published
  • By Ed Marshall
  • Eifel Times volunteer
SPANGDAHLEM AIR BASE, GERMANY --  It's March and this could only mean one thing ... March Madness. 

Hoop fans across the globe are gearing up for what is the most anticipated month in NCAA sports. However, the National Collegiate Athletic Association is not the only ones that experience March Madness. The 2007 U.S. Air Forces in Europe Small Units Basketball Championship came to Spangdahlem Air Base last week. Team Eifel hosted teams from Royal Air Force Croughton, Royal Air Force Fairford, Moron Air Base, Spain, and Geilenkirchen AB, Germany. 

"Small units have a tendency to not have the facilities to hold these types of events," said Mark Geairn, 52nd Services Squadron sports and fitness director. "We enjoy bringing competition to Spangdahlem. As long as we can meet the needs for USAFE we will continue to help out." 

Small Units consist of geographically-separated units, munitions supports squadrons and NATO bases. The majority of these bases have a limited number of personnel and playing basketball is a way to get outside of base and become leaders out of uniform. 

"I've been playing basketball since I was in high school," said Colby Benjamin, Croughton guard. "Basketball gives us life outside of work. On the court I feel like I'm a leader and when I go to work I take that with me." 

Benjamin, a Houston native, has been referred to as the "floor general" of Croughton. He was 5-1 in pool play entering the single elimination tournament on Day 4. 

"Last year, we came close to winning but only had five players. This year our team worked hard to bring home the title," Benjamin said. 

The four teams played each other twice in a three day round-robin schedule. The teams were then seeded in a single elimination tournament on Day 4. The number 1 seed Croughton, 5-1, had no problem handling the number 4 seed Moron, 1-5, in a 76-56 finish in the semi-final match. The number 2 seed GK, 4-2, was upset by the number 3 seed Fairford, 2-4, with a 67-53 final score. This set the stage for Day 5 and the 2007 USAFE Small Units Basketball Championship. The Fairford Falcons would meet the Croughton Cougars representing 422nd Air Base Group and 420th Air Base Group respectively. The Cougars won the previous matches 66-52 and 56-44. 

Tip-off would be as close as Fairford would get to holding the championship trophy. Croughton used their discipline and teamwork to jump all over Fairford. Croughton began the game on an 11-4 run and had no reservations of looking back. 

Sam Mercedes, Croughton diminutive guard, kept Fairford on their heels with his ball handling and penetration. Mercedes would make any guard proud of his hustle and knowledge of playing his position. 

Even with the score 35-16, Croughton head coach Fred Callahan screamed to his guys, "It's not over!" He had no intentions of running the score up but knew he would do anything to keep from losing this game. His coaching reflected onto his players as they outhustled and outplayed Fairford. However, one player would shoot out the lights and have the game of his life. Croughton's Tarry Cassidity, dropped 33 points and hit 7 shots beyond the gun line. Cassidity, rarely scoring in double figures, explained his performance. 

"I woke up this morning and I felt good," Cassidity said. "We had a big game today and we knew we had to play big." 

There was no better time to catch fire as the Croughton Cougars cruised to a 92-51 championship victory. 

"I asked my guys the first day of practice what their goal was," Callahan said. "Every one of them told me it was to win the USAFE championship. I told them it is going to take dedication, hard practice, and teamwork. I have my floor general Benjamin, three point champ Mercedes, and our rebounding machine MacDonald. 

Callahan explains his formula to winning it all, "Since arriving at Spangdahlem we have nothing but praises for the support we have received. Every request that we have made we have had nothing but positive answers and results." 

The feelings Callahan shared were returned by Kim McElfresh, 52nd SVS sports programmer. 

"I was pleased with all the teams who participated in the 2007 USAFE Small Unit Championships," Ms. McElfresh said. "These teams showed great appreciation, good sportsmanship and they were all very pleasant to be around."