Hurlburt Airmen earn gold at 2011 Armed Forces Basketball Championships

  • Published
  • By Staff Sgt. William Banton
  • 1st Special Operations Wing Public Affairs
HURLBURT FIELD, Fla. --  The pursuit of victory for three Hurlburt Field Airmen representing the Air Force men's basketball team came to a head during the 2011 Armed Forces Basketball Championships, April 11-17 at Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton, Calif.

Staff Sgt. Ricardo Bachelor, 1st Special Operations Maintenance Squadron and fifth time selectee, Senior Airman Andre Harp-Thomas, 1st Special Operations Logistics Readiness Squadrons supply material management technician, and Senior Airman Jammar Major, a 1st SOMXS crew chief, were selected to help the Air Force defend its title for the sixth consecutive year.

"We have a very talented team with several players who have returned for their fourth and fifth championships," said Air Force men's coach Tyrone Wright during an interview with Patrick Cube in the Camp Pendleton Scout. "Their leadership against all these teams in the tournament was vital to our success, especially in the championship game."

The Air Force battled the Army during the championship game, winning the gold with a final score of 71-65, maintaining an undefeated record of 6-0 for 2011.

"I just remember us being the best team out there," Airman Harp-Thomas said. "There might have been a couple of great players (on the other teams), but we were the best team out there."

The all-military tournament consisted of 12 games. Each service branch against played one another twice during a demanding week of competitive clashes.

"Competing against the other branches brings out the competitive spirits in all the athletes," Airman Major said. "You have the opportunity to represent your respective branch and show your abilities."

The selection process to become a member of the annual Air Force men's basketball team began in February when the prospective team members filed their applications and were subsequently picked for the training camp.

According to Sergeant Bachelor, the training camp, held at Minneapolis-St. Paul Air Reserve Station, Minn., March 22 - April 9, challenged the skills of the enlisted, officers and U.S. Air Force Academy cadets who were honored with being selected to play a pivotal part in the 2011 Air Force men's basketball team.

"Training was pretty intense this year," Sergeant Bachelor said. "We didn't invite that many guys this year so you knew everybody that got invited was solid."

For Airman Major the hard work and intensity was rewarded with not only winning the Armed Forces Championship but with his selection to the Armed Forces Men's Basketball All Tournament Team competing in the World Military Men Basketball Championship in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, this July.

"I feel honored," Airman Major said. "This selection validated the hard work and dedication I put into my training and preparation."

(Cpl. Damien Gutierrez, Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton contributed to this story)