All-Air Force men’s basketball team vies for ninth straight Armed Forces championship

  • Published
  • By Steve Warns
  • AFCEC Public Affairs

This year’s All-Air Force men’s basketball team enters the Armed Forces Tournament with a new coaching staff, nine new players, and the expectation of winning its ninth consecutive title.

Pressure?

No, said head coach Capt. Scott Stucky, a program manager with the Air Force Life Cycle Management Center at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio.

“It’s business as usual for us,” Stucky said. “The key to success is to not think about that, and we’re still hungry like we haven’t won eight straight years. These guys know what’s at stake. We still have a big chip on our shoulder, and we’re going out there like it’s still a huge deal for our guys to get the gold medal.”

The Air Force held its training camp Oct. 17-30 at JBSA-Lackland to select the roster of 12 who will now represent the service at the Armed Forces Tournament Oct. 31-Nov. 8 at Marine Corps Base-Quantico, Virginia.

Stucky said because of the abundance of new players, it has been challenging to assimilate them and formulate game plans, but the team demonstrated remarkable readiness and resilience throughout camp.

“It’s a lot of on-the-job training and forging them through fire in tough situations,” he said. “But we’re feeling real good about the team. It’s amazing how far we’ve come in a week in terms of holding a tryout along with putting in an offense, defense, and building team camaraderie. We got down to the 12 guys that we think could give us the best chance to go to Quantico and win every game, and more importantly, win the Armed Forces championship.”

The team features several players who played college basketball, including three who played at the U.S. Air Force Academy, and Stucky wants a “gritty and tough bunch.” During the exhibition games, he’s emphasizing team defense before the team leaves for Quantico Oct. 30.

“We know if we play good defense here, we can play good defense in (Quantico),” Stucky said.

Staff Sgt. James Lewis IV, a financial analyst with the 52nd Comptroller Squadron at Spangdahlem AB, Germany, will be playing for his eighth consecutive gold medal.

“We have a very high basketball IQ, and we have players who are willing to play hard and play smart. “That’s what separates us from the other branches,” said Lewis, who says he plays “a little bit everywhere.”

He thinks the U.S. Army will provide the toughest competition, but added the U.S. Navy and U.S. Marine Corps can’t be overlooked.

“With the Army, you have the perfect storm of skilled players (from the U.S. Military Academy at West Point) and strength,” Lewis said. “The Navy and Marines get their talent from the U.S. Naval Academy, and that’s split up. The Marines are definitely the most physical team.”

Lewis, who will be stationed at Misawa AB, Japan, after the tournament, joined the All-Air Force men’s basketball team when a camp came to his first home station. It’s been nothing but a positive experience.

“I was told when I first enlisted I would have an opportunity to play (with the All-Air Force men’s basketball team),” he said. “Through sports, I’ve been to nine different places. It’s been a great opportunity to network and connect with other Airmen.”

Building a team and trust in a short time is what Airmen on the team can take back to their duty stations, Stucky said.  

“We have honorable Airmen who are dedicated to excellence in all that we do,” he said. “When it comes to duty stations, and missions to complete, you have to make sure you can count on your brother. That’s what (the tournament is) going to be.”