Service Members Push Limits at Martin Luther King Basketball Tournament

  • Published
  • By Airman 1st Class Nigel Sandridge
  • 1st Special Operations Wing Public Affairs
HURLBURT FIELD, Fla. --  Service members joined together to commemorate Martin Luther King Jr.'s birthday by assembling fifteen-man teams to participate in a basketball tournament.

The Martin Luther King Jr., basketball tournament is a annual tradition on Hurlburt Field. Players laced up their hooping shoes Jan. 19 through Jan. 21 to participate in a basketball tournament that not only was for fun, but memorialized the life of Martin Luther King Jr.

"It's going to be a long day, we're up against some really good teams," said Tech. Sgt. Terrance Brown, an aircraft maintenance instructor of 373rd Training Squadron and a player for the Hurlburt Commandos, as he stretched for the match about to take place.

Fanfare was high at the Aderholt Fitness Center as members of the community and base personnel came out to show support to their home teams.

"It's exciting to watch and be able to support our Hurlburt Commandos," said Shanae Hoagland, local Commandos team supporter.

Sponsored by the 1st Special Operations Force Support Squadron, seven different installations descended upon Hurlburt Field for the basketball tournament and the only color that mattered was jersey color. Fighting their way through the brackets, the tournament finals consisted of the Fort Benning Knights, the Robins Air Force Base team, and the Hurlburt Commandos.

"This weekend was indeed historic- we inaugurated the 44th president, our commander-in-chief, on a day set aside to honor and recognize a great American's birthday, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr," said Lt. Col. Derrick Floyd, commander of 1st SOFSS. "His vision and action for equality played a major role in shaping our military and the nation we are privileged to defend. This weekend Dr. King's vision of equality and people of all backgrounds being able to work and play was met in its most simplistic view."
Exhausted and drenched in sweat, some not even theirs, players from all teams pushed physical limits as they passed, sunk lay-ups, and powered towards the championship game.

"It's pretty heart-racing to watch these games because of their closeness," said Staff Sgt. Emily Fuqua, a fitness specialist of 1st SOFSS.

Triple overtime in the semifinals against the Fort Benning Knights sent Hurlburt's Commandos to the finals against Robins AFB. After an intense final round, Robins AFB defeated the Hurlburt Field Commandos 68-47.

"It's great that we won, but the best thing is that we get 15 men together and try to make them better people than when we started," said Dwayne Burns, case manager for the Wounded Warrior Program and the Robins AFB head coach. "I just want to thank the Hurlburt staff and everyone who took part in setting up this tournament."

For more information on future events, please contact the 1st Special Operations Force Support Squadron at 884-2189 or visit www.myhurlburt.com.