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Pendleton News
Marines break four-year losing streak
Wayne Short
PORT HUENEME — The games are obviously a challenge, but the biggest obstacle for the All-Marine women’s basketball squad has historically been just putting a team together.
This year, after the usual predicament of organizing a roster for the Armed Forces Women’s Basketball Championship — which was played Sept. 11-16 at Naval Base Ventura County — the Marines won their first game since 2000 at the four-team event.
“The year before I got here (we) were losing by 50 points (a game),” Marine coach James Stewart said after finishing with a 1-5 record, which was good enough to qualify for third place — while the powerful Air Force squad took the title for the second year in a row.
“We’ve gone from (losing by) 30, to 20 to the teens ... to actually winning a game this year. We’re on the right track.”
There isn’t much a coach can do when training camp starts out with only seven players reporting — but somehow Stewart found a way to lead the squad out of the cellar for the first time since 2000 when the Marines finished second overall.
This year, the Marines’ lone victory at the double-round robin tournament was a 64-59 outcome over the Navy. But for Stewart, that win was huge.
“After four years, we have never had the talent to go out and win this, but we have always competed, we have always fought hard and we’re organized,” Stewart said. “As long as the girls stay positive, and they work hard, I’m happy.”
Happy or not, Stewart says things have to change if the Corps wants to be competitive.
“I had seven girls in camp the first week. We can’t even practice,” said Stewart. “I’ve always said since I’ve coached this team, from year one. If the Marine Corps wants to be competitive at Marine Women’s Basketball, the Marine Corps as a whole has to support the program.”
Stewart was able to pick up the phone and make some calls to fill his roster of 12 with some last minute players including veterans Johnnie Dawsey (Jackson) and Camp Pendleton’s Jennifer Ross.
Also participating on the team from Camp Pendleton were Telita Huffman, Jessica O’Reily, Jamie Isaacson and Tashina Tso.
The title came down to the two perennial powerhouses, the Air Force and the Army, which had won the event 12 years in a row before the Air Force upset it last year.
Both teams finished 5-1 at the event, so the title was decided on head-to-head competition. The Air Force held a nine-point advantage over the Army in two games, good enough to take the title.
Air Force coach Larry Glover says that after nine years of coaching the team, this is his best squad.
“What separates us this year is that we are 12 deep,” Glover said. “Ten of the 12 players we have played with me throughout my tenure (of nine years).”
USMC’s Brandi Robinson from Marine Corps Air Station, Miramar led the tournament in steals with 5.2 per game and was second in assist with 4.3 a game; second to the Army’s standout Tarina Boyd, who finished with a 4.5 average.
Robinson also led all Marines in scoring with an average of 13.3 points per game.
Robinson’s efforts earned her All-Tourney honors, as well as a spot on the Armed Forces team that will be competing in the 2005 Conseil International du Sport Militaire World Championship at Port Hueneme, Oct. 1-10.
All-Marine Telita Huff-man (left) goes up high with Army’s Chelsea Bryant last week during Armed Forces Women's Basketball action at Warfield Gymnasium aboard Naval Base Ventura County, Port Hueneme. Photo by Wayne Short.