MEDIA CONTEST: Holloman Nighthawks host basketball tournament

Published Dec. 26, 2006
Sports Entry 4

ACC MEDIA CONTEST -- The men's Holloman Varsity Basketball team took third in a tournament hosted by the 49th Services Squadron on their home court over Veteran's Day weekend.

The hundreds of fans who came out to cheer on the six local teams were treated to some impressively close matchups; five of the eight games were decided by four points or less.

Team Bliss won the tournament in a 92-91 point game against the Hood Stars of El Paso. Their victory came on the heels of an 84-82 point nail-biter against the Holloman Nighthawks.

"In the final game, if Hood hadn't had a double-technical foul called against them at the end of the game, they would have won," said Mr. Brad George, 49 SVS Fitness Center director, about the intensity of the games.

The Nighthawks considered their tournament performance a success.

"We played hard - we are a new, young team - and to play Fort Bliss to two points is an accomplishment," said Clarence Mitchell, the team's assistant coach.

All but three of the team's players are rookies this year, Mitchell said. The team has been working together on a conditioning program since early summer to prepare for the season.

Holloman standouts over the course of the three-day-long tournament included: TaRess Daniels, Larry Morrow, Eric Nickerson, Sterling Evans, Akenty Frazer and the bench players, Mitchell said.

The team's next big event is the Joe Hall Tournament in December at Lackland Air Force Base, Texas.