Sembach/Vogelweh Wins USAFE Small Units Basketball Tournament
10 March 2006

The Sembach/Vogelweh Tigers representing the 431st Air Base Group were crowned 2006 USAFE Small Units Basketball Champions earlier today with a 67-56 victory over the Keflavik Vikings from Iceland. Tiger Center Bobby Caldwell led all scorers with 23 points as his team led from start to finish to lift the title, team colleague Kenny Bean added 14 points including 3 three pointers in the opening three minutes to set Sembach into an early 11-0 point lead. Keflavik battled back before half time behind scoring from Nate Harvey (15pts) and Frank Uttley (14pts) for a half time deficit of 4pts at 28-24. In the second half Sembach pulled away again following threes from Gerald Herron (10pts) and Josh Bruggan (10pts) to lead 48-37 with 10minutes remaining, however, the Vikings went on their own run of 9-2 in 2 minutes to get within 4 again at 50-46 with 8 minutes left. Keflavik would get no closer as the minutes ticked away, Herron drained a three at 3 minutes out, Bruggan fouled out at the 2 minute mark but still Sembach led 63-55 and it stayed that way down the stretch for the 67-56 final.

In other consolation games it was Menwith Hill over Croughton 66-64, Geilenkirchen cruising by Alconbury 84-55 and Fairford defeating St Mawgan 71-62.

Caldwell, Bean and Bruggan from Sembach, Uttley and Harvey were named to the All Tournament Team along with Lionel Jennings and Terry Daniel from Menwith, Sam Mercedes and Dave Phillips from Croughton and Connell Wright from Geilenkirchen.

Complete results of pool play

Complete results of tournament play

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Subject: 2006 USAFE SMALL UNITS BASKETBALL CHAMPIONSHIP - DAY FOUR

The championship game for the 2006 USAFE Small Units Basketball will be contested between the Keflavik Vikings and hosts Sembach/Vogelweh Tigers. Both teams advanced to tomorrow’s showdown with thrilling victories over defending champions Menwith Hill and Croughton respectively. The Vikings overcame the Cavs 85-79 while the Tigers sneaked home by 5 points over the Cougars 59-54. The championship will be at 1500 Friday with the awards ceremony immediately following, this game will be preceded by the Cavs playing the Cougars for 3rd place at 1300. In other games today in the consolation bracket Alconbury Griffins beat UK rivals Fairford Falcons 89-79 and it was GK Panthers over the St Mawgan Storm 93-49. The Griffins will now meet the Panthers at 1100 tomorrow for 5th place and the Storm play the Falcons at 0900 for 7th place. See attachment for scores and updated schedule of tomorrow’s games.

Game 19

Keflavik 42 43 85
Menwith Hill 28 51 79

* Keflavik out the blocks first with a 24-11 run in opening 10 minutes draining six three pointers
* Keflavik maintained double digit lead into the half time 42-28
* Menwith replied to open the 2nd half with 20-4 run in 6 minutes to take lead for first time 48-46
* At mid point still MH 60-59 with 10 minutes remaining
* At 6 mins with Keflavik ahead 66-62 MH big man and leading scorer Terry Daniels fouls out
* At 2 minutes still KF 75-69 and KF 77-71 with one minute left
* KF hit 8 of 10 free throws down the stretch to seal victory

Keflavik top scorers – Frank Uttley 25pts (5 threes), Nate Harvey 19pts and Damien Moore 17pts.
Menwith top scorers – Terry Daniels 20pts, Ike Nelson and Kamil Cheatum both 19pts

Game 20

Sembach/Vogelweh 27 32 59
Croughton 27 27 54

* Croughton lead 21-12 early after 7 minutes
* Sembach reply with 15-6 run to close out half at 27-27.
* In second half always close with game tied 3 times at 36-36 at 15mins, 47-47 at 6mins, and 51-51 at 5 minute mark
* Sembach’s Josh Bruggan hits critical outside shot and contested lay up to lead 58-54 with less than a minute and missed free throws by the Cougars cost them dearly

Sembach top scorers – Josh Bruggan and Kenny Bean both 16pts, Bobby Caldwell 11pts Croughton top scorers – Sam Mercedes 20 pts and Dave Phillips 14pts

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Subject: 2006 USAFE SMALL UNITS BASKETBALL CHAMPIONSHIP - DAY THREE - GAMES 15-16

So …………………. And then there were 4!

Croughton Cougars and Sembach/Vogelweh Tigers joined Keflavik and Menwith Hill in the Final Four for this years Small Units Basketball Championship. The Cougars overcame higher seed Geilenkirchen Panthers 70-62 and the Tigers swept aside the Storm of St Mawgan 88-60. Croughton will meet Sembach in tomorrow's other semi-final at 1600 where they will attempt to avenge an earlier pool play defeat at the hands of the Tigers. The Storm will meet the Panthers in a consolation bracket game at 1200 tomorrow. See attached bracket for details

Game 15

Croughton 38 32 70
Geilenkirchen 20 42 62

* Croughton jumped out to an early HT lead of 38-20
* GK then started half on a 31-13 run behind Connell Wright (15pts) to tie game at 51-51 with 10 minutes remaining
* A 17-9 CR run over the next 9 minutes put the Cougars up 68-60 with a minute left.
* Poor free throws from the Cougars 13/34 down the stretch but Panthers unable to capitalize

CR leading scorers - Ben Colby 19pts incl 3 threes, Sam Mercedes 16pts also 3 threes, Dave Phillips 15pts and Dave Melchoire 14pts

GK leading scorers Connell Wright 22pts and Omar Mohammad 17pts

Game 16

Sembach/Vogelweh 41 47 88
St Mawgan 28 32 60

* Sembach led from start to finish, 26-13 after 10mins, 41-28 at HT, and 63-45 with 10min left
* SV leading scorers Josh Bruggan 26pts, Kenny Bean 22pts, Gerald Herron 12pts and Bobby Caldwell 11pts
* StM scorers B. Austin and N. Cottilier both with 15pts each

Subject: 2006 USAFE SMALL UNITS BASKETBALL CHAMPIONSHIP - DAY THREE - GAMES 13-14

Menwith Hill Cavaliers and Keflavik Vikings both won their elimination games today to advance into the semi-finals where they will meet each other tomorrow at 1400. The Cavaliers got by the Alconbury Griffins 88-49 and the Vikings defeated the Fairford Falcons 104-76. The Falcons and Griffins will square off in the consolation bracket tomorrow at 1000. (see attached schedule)

Game 13

Menwith Hill Cavaliers 43-45 88
Alconbury Griffins 22-27 49

* Close at midpoint of 1st half with MH leading 14-12
* MH closed out half with 29-10 run over 10 minutes led by Boykin 12 points to lead 43-22 at HT
* Alconbury never recovered in 2nd half

Top Scorers for MH - Shannon Boykins 24pts, Jerry Daniels 22pts, Issaic Nelson 16pts and Lionel Jennings 15 points

Game 14

Keflavik Vikings 52-52 104
Alconbury Griffins 34-42 76

* Fairford remained within 10 points of higher seed Keflavik for 15 minutes
* KF then extended lead to 18 by half time with Nate Harvey posting 11pts in final 5 minutes
* Fairford never got close from here on out
* Five KF players finishing in double figures

Top Scorers for KF - Nate Harvey 19pts, Frank Uttley 18pts, Tommie Holloway 17pts, Bobby Lazenby 13pts and Damien Moore 11pts

Arthur Harold replied with 16 points for FF
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Subject: 2006 USAFE SMALL UNITS BASKETBALL CHAMPIONSHIP - END OF DAY TWO - GAMES 1-12

Pool play completed with Sembach (3-0) and Keflavik (2-1) winning their final games over Croughton (1-2) and Alconbury (0-3) respectively. Keflavik finished up scoring 101points and Sembach narrowly got by with a 7point margin. Therefore, tomorrow's quarter final match ups are now set pairing up the #1 verses #4 seeds and the #2 verses #3 seeds (see attached schedules)

Subject: 2006 USAFE SMALL UNITS BASKETBALL CHAMPIONSHIP - END OF DAY TWO - GAMES 1-12

Menwith Hills claimed first place in Pool A with a 76-46 win over previously unbeaten Geilenkirchen to finish their pool play with a 3-0 record and advance to tomorrow's championship bracket as the #1 seed. Geilenkirchen (2-1) will be #2 followed by Fairford (1-2) who beat St Mawgan (0-3) 77-67. In Pool B the late games today will determine the final seedings, presently Sembach is 2-0 with their second win over Alconbury, 90-69, this morning. Keflavik defeated Crougton 71-62 to improve their record to 1-1.

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Subject: 2006 USAFE SMALL UNITS BASKETBALL CHAMPIONSHIP - END OF DAY ONE - GAMES 1-6

Menwith Hill Cavaliers and Geilenkirchen Panthers ended day one unbeaten in Pool A at 2-0 with Fairford Falcons and St Mawgan Storm slipping to 0-2. The Cavs will play the Panthers for pool winners honors tomorrow with the Falcons and Storm battling out 3rd place, allteams will then be seeded into the elimination bracket starting on Wednesday. In Pool B Sembach and Croughton finished up at 1-0 with Keflavik and Alconbury at 0-1, these teams will play two games tomorrow to round out pool play games.

Subject: 2006 USAFE SMALL UNITS BASKETBALL CHAMPIONSHIP - GAMES 1,2,3

All - Defending Champions Menwith Hill started this years Small Units Basketball Championship with a resounding 85-49 victory over the Fairford Falcons. The Cavaliers jumped out to a 20-6 lead early on and never looked back leading 49-18 at the half. Top scorers for the Hill were Terry Daniel (30points) and Shannon Boykins (15 points). Other early games had the Geilenkirchen Panthers beating the St.Mawgan Storm 61-52 and hosts Sembach/Vogelweh Tigers getting by last years runners up from Iceland, the Keflavik Vilkings 77-62. See attachment for box scores and standings. Todays games are continuing this afternoon with games 4-6.