Ramstein sweeps basketball tournament

Airman Edward Drescher
Kaiserslautern American


***image1***The Ramstein base-level men and women’s teams swept the Martin Luther King Jr. basketball tournament in Heidelberg Jan. 14 to Monday. Ramstein’s men’s team was motivated by a bold statement made by assistant coach Jason Glenn after the team’s loss to Heidelberg in the Christmas tournament. Glenn guaranteed victory for Ramstein in their next tournament.

“It did motivate us. It gave us our swagger back, the swagger we had last year when we only lost four times,” said point guard Robert Batiste who was awarded for most assists during the tournament.

Ramstein battled through five rounds beating Stuttgart, Bamberg, Geissen, Heidelberg and finally dropping Wiesbaden 87-82 to win it.

“We played more aggressive, stayed focused and eliminated mental mistakes,” said Ramstein Center Austin Layton who was named the tournament’s most valuable player. “I was surprised I won it, but it feels great.”

Ramstein guard Troy Myles was also awarded for most points scored in the tournament. Layton, Batiste, and Myles each made the all-tournament team.

“Everyone deserved to make it,” said Layton.
The Ramstein women’s team edged a feisty Heidelberg team 54-53 to win the tournament.

Ramstein guard Lakeishia Fullwood led her team with 21 points and was named the women’s tournament MVP, while Eboni Howard and LaNika Freeman scored 12 each in the title game.

Both Ramstein teams will look to continue their winning ways as they return to play Heidelberg on the road Saturday. Men’s games starts at 1 p.m. and the women’s at 3 p.m. at the Heidelberg Patton Fitness Center.