Fort Bliss Monitor

Run ‘n’ Blade slices way to Black History title

Master Sgt. Steve Miller
Public Affairs Chief

Ron Yuhasz of the Fort Bliss Flight takes aim Saturday during the free throw contest, held at Stout Gym as part of the annual Black History Month basketball tournament. Yuhasz won the event by making 17 of 20 free throws over two rounds.

They run the court and cut to the basket for a layup, dunk or some other high-percentage shot. Or they run, cut and dish the ball to Eddie Avila, Gene Costello or another 3-point marksman, who more often than not nails the trey, putting another dagger into their opponent’s chances for victory.

“All of our guys are former college players from schools like Western New Mexico, Sul Ross State or UTEP,” Blades Coach Jose Rodriguez said. “We travel to quite a few tournaments, and we play in the YMCA league downtown. The competition here is good – certainly Fort Bliss is a good team and the Air Force teams.”

Last weekend Run ‘n’ Blade #1 earned the Black History Month basketball tournament championship Sunday with a pair of wins over the 326th CONUS Replacement Center at Stout Gym. The Blades eclipsed the century mark in every game they played – except the 10-minute “if necessary” game, which determined the title – yet were in the loser’s bracket entering Sunday’s action.

That’s because their penchant for showing up just before game time caught up with them Saturday night when they were slated to meet the 326th CRC in the semifinals. The Blades were late, and the 326th automatically advanced to Sunday’s championship game. So the Blades were a determined group Sunday morning when they took on Fort Bliss in the loser’s bracket semifinals.

Team Bliss found itself down 46-25 at halftime, but they managed to close within three at 58-55 with 10:48 left when Klay Gardiner hit a 3-pointer from the left wing. But the Blades sprang back to life and kept building their lead until they recorded a 102-70 triumph over the home team.

That put the Blades in the finals against the 326th, but they would need to win twice because of their Saturday night gaffe. The Blades raced to a 53-26 halftime lead and coasted in the second half en route to a 114-76 triumph. Costello’s 20 points led the way, but there was plenty of balance, as Ruben Gomez and Wadrian Wallace scored 18 points apiece, Avila and Leonard Owens each had 17 and Al Niter tallied 10. Kevin Henry had 30 to lead the 326th, and Demetrius Minor added 14.

However, since that was 326th CRC’s first loss in the double-elimination tourney, a 10-minute “if necessary” game was played to determine the champion. The Blades got off to a 28-10 lead and settled for a 30-20 win and the tourney title. Avila scored nine points – on a trio of 3-pointers – to lead the Blades. Henry and James Blount each had five for 326th.

“We wanted to try to slow them down, but if we’re not hitting shots it makes it tough,” said Sheryll Washington, coach for 326th CRC. “I was proud of our team. They held their own despite the fact they were shorthanded because we had two guys injured. (Eric) Butler got hurt today and (Dustin) Quinn was hurt before the tournament.”

Tournament organizers spiced up the event this year by holding a 3-point shootout and free throw contest Saturday afternoon. Players needed to sink 8 of 15 treys to advance to the finals, while 10 made free throws in 15 attempts were required to advance to the finals in that event. American Legion Post No. 832 sponsored both events, and post commander Ruben Banks presented the awards.

Avila won the 3-point shootout by nailing eight treys in each round, edging Blake McCallon of Fort Bliss, who had eight in the first round and seven in the finals.

Only Ron Yuhasz of Fort Bliss and Akenty Frazer of Holloman Air Force Base, N.M., advanced to the finals of the free throw contest, making 13 and 12, respectively. The final round was a best-of-5 affair, with Yuhasz beating Frazer 4-2.

Basketball League Playoffs

Playoff results

Feb. 16 results
HHB, 5th Bn, 52nd ADA 53, 286th Sig Co 49
B Btry, 5th Bn, 52nd ADA 48, A Btry, 3rd Bn, 43rd ADA 36

Feb. 17 results
C Btry, 3rd Bn, 43rd ADA 55, 507th Maint Co 51
D Btry, 1st Bn, 44th ADA 55, A Btry, 5th Bn, 52nd ADA 40
HHB/516th Maint Co 42, A Btry, 3rd Bn, 43rd ADA 30

Tuesday’s result
286th Sig Co 61, A Btry, 1st Bn, 44th ADA 56 2OT

Last night’s Schedule
286th Sig Co vs 507th Maint Co, 6 p.m.
A Btry, 5th Bn, 52nd ADA vs HHB/516th Maint Co, 7 p.m.
HHB, 5th Bn, 52nd ADA vs C Btry, 3rd Bn, 43rd ADA, 8 p.m.
D Btry, 1st Bn, 44th ADA vs B Btry, 5th Bn, 52nd ADA, 9 p.m.

The EAC League playoffs continue tonight, Monday and Tuesday, with the championship game set for 6 p.m. March 2. The “if necessary” game is scheduled for 6 p.m. March 3.

Independent League
Playoff schedule

Last night’s schedule
B Btry, 3rd Bn, 6th ADA Bde vs JTF-North, 6 p.m.
978th MP Co vs DA Police, 7 p.m.
HHB, 6th ADA Bde vs 326th CRC, 8 p.m.
NCO Academy vs A Btry, 2nd Bn, 6th ADA Bde, 9 p.m.

The Independent League playoffs continue tonight, Friday and
Monday, with the championship game scheduled for 7:30 p.m.
March 1 at Stout Gym. An “if necessary” game would be played
at 8:45 p.m. March 1.

The post basketball tournament championships will begin March 7
and feature the top teams from the Corps League, EAC League and
the Independent League. The championship game is at 6 p.m. March
10.

Sports briefs

Racquetball championships

The single-elimination post racquetball championships are underway through Friday at Stout Gym. Competition is open to active-duty military personnel and activated Reserve Component members assigned or attached to Fort Bliss.

Age categories for men and women are 29 and under, 30-39 and 40 or older. Awards will go to the top two players in each category. For information, call 568-5995.

Women’s softball tryouts

Tryouts for the women’s post softball team are underway through March 5 on Tuesdays and Thursdays at 6 p.m. and Saturdays at 9 a.m. The team also needs a coach. For information, call 568-5995.

Intramural bowling

The intramural bowling league begins play starting Monday night at the Fort Bliss Bowling Center. Competition will continue on Mondays, ending with a post championship in June. There will be no charge to bowl or for shoe rental.

Teams will have four members, and all league teams will be eligible for the post playoffs. For information, call 568-5995.

Post hoop tourney

The single-elimination post basketball tournament takes place March 7 through 10. Games will take place at Milam and Stout Gyms the first night, with all other games scheduled for Stout Gym.

The tourney will feature 16 teams comprised of the top teams from the Corps League, Echelons Above Corps League and the Independent League. The championship game is set for 6 p.m. March 10. For information, call 568-5198.



www.bliss.army.mil	Published for the Fort Bliss/El Paso, Texas Community	February 24, 2005

<map name="boxmap-b4"> <area shape="rect" coords="0, 589, 120, 600" href="http://rcm.amazon.com/e/cm/privacy-policy.html?o=1" > <area coords="0,0,10000,10000" href="http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/redirect?tag=&creative=92501&camp=8117&link_code=dl1&path=subst/misc/amazon-cobrand-cc/v3/marketing-from-associates-step1.html/ref%3Db1_assoc_29" > </map>	Run ‘n’ Blade slices way to Black History title Master Sgt. Steve Miller Public Affairs Chief Ron Yuhasz of the Fort Bliss Flight takes aim Saturday during the free throw contest, held at Stout Gym as part of the annual Black History Month basketball tournament. Yuhasz won the event by making 17 of 20 free throws over two rounds. They run the court and cut to the basket for a layup, dunk or some other high-percentage shot. Or they run, cut and dish the ball to Eddie Avila, Gene Costello or another 3-point marksman, who more often than not nails the trey, putting another dagger into their opponent’s chances for victory. “All of our guys are former college players from schools like Western New Mexico, Sul Ross State or UTEP,” Blades Coach Jose Rodriguez said. “We travel to quite a few tournaments, and we play in the YMCA league downtown. The competition here is good – certainly Fort Bliss is a good team and the Air Force teams.” Last weekend Run ‘n’ Blade #1 earned the Black History Month basketball tournament championship Sunday with a pair of wins over the 326th CONUS Replacement Center at Stout Gym. The Blades eclipsed the century mark in every game they played – except the 10-minute “if necessary” game, which determined the title – yet were in the loser’s bracket entering Sunday’s action. That’s because their penchant for showing up just before game time caught up with them Saturday night when they were slated to meet the 326th CRC in the semifinals. The Blades were late, and the 326th automatically advanced to Sunday’s championship game. So the Blades were a determined group Sunday morning when they took on Fort Bliss in the loser’s bracket semifinals. Team Bliss found itself down 46-25 at halftime, but they managed to close within three at 58-55 with 10:48 left when Klay Gardiner hit a 3-pointer from the left wing. But the Blades sprang back to life and kept building their lead until they recorded a 102-70 triumph over the home team. That put the Blades in the finals against the 326th, but they would need to win twice because of their Saturday night gaffe. The Blades raced to a 53-26 halftime lead and coasted in the second half en route to a 114-76 triumph. Costello’s 20 points led the way, but there was plenty of balance, as Ruben Gomez and Wadrian Wallace scored 18 points apiece, Avila and Leonard Owens each had 17 and Al Niter tallied 10. Kevin Henry had 30 to lead the 326th, and Demetrius Minor added 14. However, since that was 326th CRC’s first loss in the double-elimination tourney, a 10-minute “if necessary” game was played to determine the champion. The Blades got off to a 28-10 lead and settled for a 30-20 win and the tourney title. Avila scored nine points – on a trio of 3-pointers – to lead the Blades. Henry and James Blount each had five for 326th. “We wanted to try to slow them down, but if we’re not hitting shots it makes it tough,” said Sheryll Washington, coach for 326th CRC. “I was proud of our team. They held their own despite the fact they were shorthanded because we had two guys injured. (Eric) Butler got hurt today and (Dustin) Quinn was hurt before the tournament.” Tournament organizers spiced up the event this year by holding a 3-point shootout and free throw contest Saturday afternoon. Players needed to sink 8 of 15 treys to advance to the finals, while 10 made free throws in 15 attempts were required to advance to the finals in that event. American Legion Post No. 832 sponsored both events, and post commander Ruben Banks presented the awards. Avila won the 3-point shootout by nailing eight treys in each round, edging Blake McCallon of Fort Bliss, who had eight in the first round and seven in the finals. Only Ron Yuhasz of Fort Bliss and Akenty Frazer of Holloman Air Force Base, N.M., advanced to the finals of the free throw contest, making 13 and 12, respectively. The final round was a best-of-5 affair, with Yuhasz beating Frazer 4-2. Basketball League Playoffs Playoff results Feb. 16 results HHB, 5th Bn, 52nd ADA 53, 286th Sig Co 49 B Btry, 5th Bn, 52nd ADA 48, A Btry, 3rd Bn, 43rd ADA 36 Feb. 17 results C Btry, 3rd Bn, 43rd ADA 55, 507th Maint Co 51 D Btry, 1st Bn, 44th ADA 55, A Btry, 5th Bn, 52nd ADA 40 HHB/516th Maint Co 42, A Btry, 3rd Bn, 43rd ADA 30 Tuesday’s result 286th Sig Co 61, A Btry, 1st Bn, 44th ADA 56 2OT Last night’s Schedule 286th Sig Co vs 507th Maint Co, 6 p.m. A Btry, 5th Bn, 52nd ADA vs HHB/516th Maint Co, 7 p.m. HHB, 5th Bn, 52nd ADA vs C Btry, 3rd Bn, 43rd ADA, 8 p.m. D Btry, 1st Bn, 44th ADA vs B Btry, 5th Bn, 52nd ADA, 9 p.m. The EAC League playoffs continue tonight, Monday and Tuesday, with the championship game set for 6 p.m. March 2. The “if necessary” game is scheduled for 6 p.m. March 3. Independent League Playoff schedule Last night’s schedule B Btry, 3rd Bn, 6th ADA Bde vs JTF-North, 6 p.m. 978th MP Co vs DA Police, 7 p.m. HHB, 6th ADA Bde vs 326th CRC, 8 p.m. NCO Academy vs A Btry, 2nd Bn, 6th ADA Bde, 9 p.m. The Independent League playoffs continue tonight, Friday and Monday, with the championship game scheduled for 7:30 p.m. March 1 at Stout Gym. An “if necessary” game would be played at 8:45 p.m. March 1. The post basketball tournament championships will begin March 7 and feature the top teams from the Corps League, EAC League and the Independent League. The championship game is at 6 p.m. March 10. Sports briefs Racquetball championships The single-elimination post racquetball championships are underway through Friday at Stout Gym. Competition is open to active-duty military personnel and activated Reserve Component members assigned or attached to Fort Bliss. Age categories for men and women are 29 and under, 30-39 and 40 or older. Awards will go to the top two players in each category. For information, call 568-5995. Women’s softball tryouts Tryouts for the women’s post softball team are underway through March 5 on Tuesdays and Thursdays at 6 p.m. and Saturdays at 9 a.m. The team also needs a coach. For information, call 568-5995. Intramural bowling The intramural bowling league begins play starting Monday night at the Fort Bliss Bowling Center. Competition will continue on Mondays, ending with a post championship in June. There will be no charge to bowl or for shoe rental. Teams will have four members, and all league teams will be eligible for the post playoffs. For information, call 568-5995. Post hoop tourney The single-elimination post basketball tournament takes place March 7 through 10. Games will take place at Milam and Stout Gyms the first night, with all other games scheduled for Stout Gym. The tourney will feature 16 teams comprised of the top teams from the Corps League, Echelons Above Corps League and the Independent League. The championship game is set for 6 p.m. March 10. For information, call 568-5198.