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Pacific SportsBlogOkinawa-based sports reporter Dave Ornauer on military-related sports in the Far East. |
Basketball Best Fives of last 25 years, Part IV: DODDS Korea
Posted February 10th, 2008 by Dave OrnauerWe begin the DODDS-Korea segment with that "tiny but mighty" school in the nation's southeastern corner that is, alas, now little more than a memory:
Pusan American, boys
Mike Webb, F, Class of 1983 (won first Class A tournament).
Robert Fleming, F, Class of 1985.
Chuck Sands, G, Class of 1988.
Moses Joh, G, Class of 2006.
James Edwards, C, Class of 2006>
Pusan American, girls
Kim Sands, G, Class of 1985.
Sharon Nunes, F, Class of 1986.
Mary Nunes, G, Class of 1988.
Cindy Wares, C, Class of 1994 (won Class A tournament).
Brieanna Carroll, G, Class of 2005 (perhaps the best girls athlete in school history).
Daegu American, boys
Roy Morgan, C, Class of 1989.
Alonzo Mosley, F-G, Class of 1989 (part of team that won Pacific-record 47 straight games and three straight Class A tournament titles).
Mike Parker, F-G, Class of 1994.
David Lipsky, F-G, Class of 2000 (maybe the best boys athlete in school history).
Brandon Spencer, G, Class of 2008.
Daegu American, girls
Hwa-Jin Cho, G, Class of 1996
Nancy Canlas, G, Class of 2000
Kelli Cox, F, Class of 2006
Tamara "Tank" Hancock, G, Class of 2006
Lynnette Grant, F-G, Class of 2006 (last three part of school-first Class A tournament title team; sadly, Grant was killed in car accident in September of 2006 in Alabama).
Osan American, boys
Oswan Law, G, Class of 2000
Jon Piekarczyk, C, Class of 2003 (won school's first Class A tournament title)
Steven Davis, F-G, Class of 2004
A.J. Scott, F-G, Class of 2004
Terry Stephens, F-G, Class of 2005
Osan American, girls
Jana Jaczinski, G, Class of 1996
Selena Barnes, G, Class of 1999
Sarah McDonald, C, Class of 1999
Lori Shields, G, Class of 2002 (MVP of school's first Class A tournament title team)
Mina Davis, F, Class of 2005
Seoul American, boys
Jimmy Peters, F, Class of 1982. Best pure scorer Ornauer has ever seen.
Randy Melton, G, Class of 1994
Han Ripley, G, Class of 1996 (won school's first Class AA tournament title)
Nino Etienne, F-G, Class of 2003 (MVP of school's second Class AA title team)
David Abramowicz, C, Class of 2004 (MVP of school's third Class AA title team)
Seoul American, girls
Gloria Peele, G-F, Class of 1986 (led Falcons to school-first Class AA title)
Lori Johnson, F, Class of 1992
Margaret Nurse, C, Class of 2006 (MVP of Falcons' third Class AA title team; also won a Class A title with Osan American in 2005)
Janel Daniels, F, Class of 2005 (MVP of Falcons' second Class AA title team)
Devanee' Taylor, F, Class of 2009.
KAIAC Past 25 Years
I wanted to make a comment as an old folkie from KCA (now TCIS). I think you did a great job with your teams. I played at KCA and finished in 1982, playing with a couple of very good players (Terry White and Steve Schowengerdt) on a team that lost to Jimmy Peters and Seoul American in the championship. I also remember Steve Butterfield from Taegu who should be mentioned on any team of theirs. To give you a little evidence of his value, we had beaten TAHS by 38 points in what was supposed to be an even semi-final game of the Holiday Tournament. He did not play that game. The next game Taegu beat us by a point and we beat them by two the game after that. He was a great athlete. His best sport may have been soccer, however, as he was all state in South Carolina before becoming the guy at Taegu.
I would love to have a conversation at some point about teams from the 70s and early 80s too. However, I have to say that it is enjoyable to have a conversation as we are having about the best players from the last 25 years. I think one would need to include Phillip Kim, Steve Schowengerdt, and Terry White on a team from KCA.
Incidentally, you have named on your list my wife and my brother-in-law on your Pusan teams. I married Kim Sands (now Everhart) and I agree that she and Chuck certainly were outstanding athletes when they were at Pusan.
Thanks for bringing up this subject! I would love to get back in on a discussion of the best ever of the KAIAC of basketball, soccer, and possibly tennis. There are a number of athletes that would merit inclusion on those teams from the way past. I would include players like JP Rader (SFS), Andy Schowengerdt (KCA), Jon Folta (KCA), Jay and Jon Crouse (SFS), Jon Kidney (SFS soccer), Andy and John Linton (KCA), Allen Helbing (Taegu), and the Ware brothers from Pusan. There are many more that could be included but you did a great job of putting together the teams that you have.
In a nod to JP Rader who is still active with the KAIAC in coaching and administrative roles, he is probably the best all-around athlete ever to play in the KAIAC.
Thanks.....Brett Everhart, KCA, Class of 1982
Kim Sands and last-second heroics
Brett, good to hear from you.
Ask Kim about the game she played as a freshman for the Panthers on the first day of the 1982 Far East tournament on Okinawa.
They bused from Pusan to K-2 Air Base in Taegu, flew to Osan, then flew to Kadena and landed 45 minutes before their first schedule game.
The bus got them to Kubasaki's Dragons' Den 15 minutes before tip-off. The back-and-forth game was won on a Sands buzzer-beater 36-35 over Nile C. Kinnick of Japan.
My first memory of DODDS-Pacific girls basketball. And to this day, one of my fondest. :)
Taegu American, Boys Top V
I just wanted to confirm something with Dave about this subject. I know it has been a while but, I remember Dave being interviewed by AFKN during the Christmas Classic in Seoul, December 1988, I believe. He said that Stan Pulley, Thomas Collins, Roy Morgan, Alonzo Mosley, and Andre Joyner were the best starting five in Far East history. It's been 20 years since then and I wonder if that has changed.
I also distinctly remember him writing about the lack of support they got from their bench. Being that I was a member of that infamous bench, I just wanted to remind him of that particular comment that I remember to this day. Not that I'm holding a grudge or anything.
Re: Taegu American, Boys Top V
You know, I kept that tape! Bill Gatewood and Rick McGlothlin really raked me over the coals in that interview. I loved it.
Yes, indeed, Ornauer wrote in February and March 1989 that he thought the Taegu American starting five in 1988-89 was the best he had seen, perhaps the best in Far East history.
And yes, indeed, Ornauer wrote that the bench was lacking, a fact proved incorrect more than once during the 1989 Class A Tournament, played before the Warriors' adoring masses at the Kelly Fitness & Sports Center. Which, by the way, will host the Class A tournament starting Monday for the first time since 1994.
Stan Pulley -- as solid a court general as they came. Not so concerned with scoring as he was in making his teammates better.
Thomas "J.R. or Junior" Collins -- Anybody remember Michael Adams' set shot? Jerry Lucas? Dave DeBusschere? That type of two-handed push shot from the chest, with deadly accuracy. Took me awhile to catch onto the fact that he was shooting, not passing.
Alonzo Mosley -- As natural a talent as any I'd seen to that point of my years of covering Pacific high school sports. Fearless, athletic and humble. Could play any position.
Roy Morgan -- At 6-foot-3, he played like somebody six inches taller. I watched him block 6-foot-6 players' shots with aplomb. He looked like an E-5 in the Army and played like a mini-Shaq.
Andre Joyner -- Not very skilled basketball-wise, it was his job to get inside opponents' heads. He honed that into fine art form at once admired by his teammates and abhorred by his foes.
As to whether that's still the best starting five in Far East history ... a lot of players have come and gone since then.
Imagine how well a Mike Parker might have fit into that team? Or a Ray Mann? David Lipsky? The twins Tylance and Tyrance Hines?
But Robert, your point is taken.
You became an Army officer, yes?
Hope the years have been good to you. :)
Don't forget about football !!!
Dave you have to give us the best in football too.
I bow down to the master
Dave:
The fact that you remember all that is estonishing.
Yes, I am an Army officer and the years have been good. I revel in the fact that I am sitting on Yokota AB and reading your blog.
As for my teammates:
- Stan Pulley is also an Army Major and I got an email from him the other day telling me that he's trying to get back in game shape again.
- JR Collins lives in North Carolina and heads a consulting firm that assists high school basketball prospects get to their collegiate hoop dreams. He still coachs occassionally.
- I saw Alonzo Moseley a few months ago. He lives in Warner-Robbins, Georgia.
- Andre Joyner is working out of the DC area for BET. A busy man with a busy network.
- Sadly, Roy Morgan was killed a few years after he left Taegu. Not sure what the circumstances were but, it was a tragedy nontheless.
I definitely look fondly upon those years in KAIAC and the Far East Class A Tourney. I certainly hope that the current generation of players get that same experience of holding the trophy up in the middle of Kelly Gym. I haven't had the same experience since.
Keep blogging, Dave. I will certainly keep reading.
Far East AA Boys Basketball Tournament
As an alternate to the Seoul American High School tournament website, please check out:
http://fareastbasketball.tripod.com
Spread the word.
Response to Ornauer about Last Second Sands Heroics from Okinawa
Dave,
I read to Kim what you had written. You had her smiling as she remembered exactly how you had posted about the specific game, but more significantly, the exhausting trip to get Pusan to the tournament 15 minutes before tip off. Thanks for sharing. I remember following the Stripes coverage of the Far East Tournament when it was in Okinawa with all of the schools. We at KCA could not afford to send our teams but we did enjoy rooting on our peers from Korea, especially Pusan and SFS. We did pull for SAHS and Taegu as well but there was a fondness for PAHS and SFS for us at KCA. There were many times that Stripes described the actions of my wife Kim (Sands) or her brother (Chuck). Her sister Wendy and brother Bob even got some press as well. I guess I married into the right family for basketball memories from the KAIAC. Keep up the good work,Dave. You have seen a lot come and go during your time in the Far East. I certainly want to check in on what you are writing from now on. It is fun to remember the good old days.
Bret Everhart, KCA (Class of 1982)
website for boys and girls "A" tournament?
Can anyone tell me the websites for the boys' and girls' class A tournament?
The unmentioned
I grew up watching KAIAC's greatest players so it's definitely an honor to make this list. I'm shocked, however, that a couple of players were not mentioned. I'm very surprised that Keegan Kelly is not on Taegu's all time best list. In my opinion, Keegan was a stronger player than Alonzo Mosely and is the best basektball player to wear the TAHS Green. He was a pure scorer with the ability to get any shot he wanted. Mike Parker (on Taegu's list!?!?!?) was definitely second fiddle to Keegan, and I'm sure he'd tell you the same.
Another player that is worth mentioning here is Jason McPhee, from SAHS. It was a shame that SAHS had three teams back then; they would have been the first to bring Seoul the AA Championship had they played with one unit the entire season. Jason was a dynamic player with a nice shot to compliment his ability to get to the basket.
Unmentioned continued
Obviously, not having seen guys like Kelly or Parker play, I can only comment on those that I did see and play with. Alonzo Mosely had the distinction of being able to score from any spot on the floor. Just dangerous on a drive or pulling up for a set shot. At three point range or maneuvering under the basket. He had the flow when he was playing and it was almost artistic.
I'll tell you, the other person I would comment on was JR Collins. He was by far the most technically superior basketball player I've played with or seen play. He won the three-point contest three years in a row at the Class A Tournament and he was a guarantee on a set shot from the floor.
One guy that is rarely mentioned is Tony Walk who played in 1987-1988. Just raw talent that was unbelievable to watch when he was on. I was on JV at the time when they won their Championship and was just another spectator watching him work. My good friend Stan Pulley was on every TAHS Varsity Team from 1986-1989. He controlled the floor, bottomline. He scored when he had the opportunity or when he had to and more importantly, he set the conditions for guys like Alonzo, JR, and Roy Morgan. A guy that didn't get a lot of press when I was playing was Max Dickey. He had a James Worthy type of play in that he was always reliable, he played good defense, death on the boards and put the ball in the hole.
You mentioned Jason McPhee, I would also mention his brother Matt. Both were gifted athletes. Matt was always the trigger man on the outside shot where Jason was the go-to guy for the Talons. That was something that I think hurt them was that they divided their talent across two or three teams for the KAIAC season (Flyers, Talons, or Wings) and then squashed them together for the Class AA Tournament (Falcons). It does say alot about the school that they always had so much talent. If they would have kept the 1988 Christmas Classic Team through the entire season, I think they would have certainly gave us Warriors a run for the KAIAC title that year not to mention having the best team in Far East.
Probably the best team that always showed was Seoul Foreign. They always played us tough and they always kept up on our game. Four straight years at the Class A Tournament that it was TAS vs. SFS in Kelly Gym. Just a great, technically sound, and cohesive basketball team that would hurt you with simple and fundamental execution on the floor.
Just some food for thought from the guy from the '80s.
Pusan 83' champs
Fun running across this blog. I was a freshman on the team that won the Class A championship in 83', with Michael Webb and David James, etc.....Grew up w/ Kim Sands and Chuck Sands, and remember the Iceman, Jimmy Peters, very well. Also remember all the KCA teams from the early 80's.... Unfortunately, I left Korea that summer and didn't get to play w/ Robert Fleming and James Hulbert in 85'.
David Jeffery
San Antonio, Texas
TAS bball pride
I came in as a freshman to TAS and my first night in country I watched the Far East Tourney and Keegan Kelly was easily the best player in the entire league, let alone the tournament...Mike was a good solid player in his own right and I wont take his shine away from him but there were some other very good players that I need to mention. Jason Dean TAS Rhee Mann TAS and even from the TAS JV teams of 93 and 94 Rhee Mann, Tim Coultas. I am not sure if Mann went on to play Varsity but the years he played JV with Coultas were great years. If I can find the records or the individual stats in those years the TAS JV teams were very good. Also the Hines brothers were easily the best athletes in TAS for the years they attended football, basketball and even some showing in soccer but tragically Lance has since past on.
Seoul
You forgot some names like Cradell(sp), hollingsworth, just to name a few the mcphee brothers were great players but lets remember Coach Bill Mierzejewski who still lives in Okinawa and all the great teams that he had with his run and shoot attitude. He coached at Kubasaki (jv only), Seoul American they were the runner up two years. Then in subic Bay with Goerge dewey where the won 9 games that with wich doesnt sound like much but they had only won two games the previously three years. Then to Kadena where he coached the girls team to a couple of championships, then on to the boys team where he was never able to win the big one but still had great sucess. This was a man who really cared about all of his kids and not just about basketball but about how they were doing in life as well. I was privileged to call him coach as well as father. My dad (of course I am biased) was the best coach a kid could ask for. "do as I say exactally as i say do not deviate and we will win" Mierzejewski. This was a saying he would tell us before every game and after every pratice. He will never be forgotten
Coach Bill Mierzejewski
I have nothing but high praise for Coach Mierzejewski. Nothing short of a class act no matter what. He used to preach defense even to us.
I remember the last game we played against the Talons in Seoul. The refs were brutal on us and we were standing around after the game and he said to us, " I wish they would have just let us play." Again the greatest of respect for Coach M.
I think the guy you are thinking of was Alvin Cradle. Awesome big man for sure. There was another guy named Cephis(sp) who played for the Wings that I remember too.
leading scorer left off.....89 far east all tourny team
I want to thank Doc Dye for remembering things I don't care to. I have been blessed to play against Nick Van Exel and Sam Cassell in a Texas jr college system and receive a full basketball scholarship to school. I did have to raise the set shot from the chest and shoot it more conventionally from the eyebrow but made that adjustment my senior year before winning the class a mvp. I have also been blessed to play at the DI and DII levels and go on to coach on the NCAA DII level for 6 years. I have moved from NC back to Louisville KY where I train over 75 student athletes from ages 8 to pros. There has been great talent overseas in DODDS but with the lack of exposure and contacts our coaches have ...it is a major challenge to land an opportunity much less a scholarship. My dad and asst. coach at Taegu American, Sonny Collins implemented faith and hard work to get me in front of the right people. Now I do the same from a consulting viewpoint. Kamiko Williams was the first DODDS player I referred ti UNC lady heels before she moved back to Ft. Campbell, TN....she has now verballed to Pat Summit and the Lady Vols......If u can play.u can play. I hope to one day come back and conduct camps for players and seminars for parents to provide advantages to the disadvantaged military dependent student athletes....God bless.....Jaye "JR" Collins
Praise for my Brother
Jaye Collins:
I've got nothing but love for you brother. Having come across this blog and Dave Ornauer again has sparked all the nostalgia.
I'm going to try and get back to Taegu and the old gym with my wife and kids sometime soon.
God bless you and your family.
Paul
Far East Sports/good times
I stumbled across this post by mistake. It was good to see the guys who replied to the post. As I remember, great atheletes all. I was on the JV team during the time when Roy, Alonzo and Stan were kicking butt that year. My thing was soccer at that time. I was happy to see that all the guys who posted comments are still doing well.
I recently got an email from Stan Pulley. He got married to Leeann Zornes recently, for those of you who remember her. Still in the Army and doing well. I lost contact with Alonzo and especialy Roy Morgan. Last I heard he was back in Trinidad and ran into some trouble. I ran into his dad back in 92. Other than that everyone else kind of fell off the map. I tried to stay in touch with most people to see how they are doing.
But, yes, that team was incredible. Not sure if you mentioned Louis, can't remember his last name though. But it was a great time to be a Warrior that year, unfortunately we couldn't bring more than a third place victory that year for soccer. I was team captain, and faced with the stacked teams from Seoul. It was tough.
I'm happy to see that these guys get recognized for the skills they had. And I agree with JR, its a shame they couldn't get recognized for that. And for all the people who posted who remember Shawn Dendy, I'm still around. I'm in the AirForce in Germany. I've been ghost for a while myself, with the war and my job keeps me down range all the time. For you guys that are still in the service look me up on the global and drop me a line. Or check out some other illumni on classmates.com. I'm trying to look you up right now Paul.
Take Care and thanks for the story.
SSgt Shawn Dendy
Are you serious?
Wow, I was surprised to see some of these names on here to be honest...Ornauer, where is the love? A lot of us that went to TAS around 93-96 now all live in the DC Metro area and we are all still really good friends and we were all looking at the list kind of perplexed...No offense at all but David Lipsky maybe the best athlete in school history? Now, granted I was gone by the time he graduated but I do remember him and his brother and we even talk sometimes but what about Keagan kelly, Myself (Jason Dean), Rob Boyd, Kevin Phillips, Rance and Lance (RIP) Hines, Tim Livingstone, Tim Coultas, I see you have my boy Mike Parker on there at least but I don't think you've taken into account that Osan American High School was not around in those days which meant that Seoul American High School had a very big concentration of talent...so much so that they actually had tryouts for their teams...our school TAS was K-12 so pretty much if you came out for the team you were on it and we still did very well against these other squads in Football, basketball, soccer etc. On the girls side, where is Stacie Parker? She was the captain of the team and best scorer and you have Hwa Jin Cho on there (although she was a great athlete and remains a good friend to this day). What about Julian Perez at Pusan? Do I have to pull out my old stat sheets Dave? LOL. I still have a lot of articles that YOU wrote about how I was dominating the Far East tourny back in 95, the first time MC Perry held the tourny in Iwakuni, I have article that I believe YOU wrote about our football teams which I (and many of my teammates) played both ways and special teams AND made the All Star teams and started both years I was there...OK enough of re living the glory days and not taking away anything from the accomplishments of those mentioned but a lot of us were a little shocked at the names (or lack there of) provided on the list
Re: Are you serious?
Jason:
You've given the old, grey-haired guy with the evaporating brain cells an excellent idea.
Come winter, why don't we revisit the Best of the last 25 years and see if we can't refine them and do a better job of recognising those whom people might feel got the short shrift?
We'll do that, and also select the best 13 wrestlers at each school the past 25 years.
Oh, and if you'd seen David Lipsky play, as I was fortunate enough to do, you'd agree. No less an authority than Coach Pujol agrees. *smile*
Honored
Hello Dave. This is Hwa Jin Hurt (formerly known as Hwa Jin Cho). I just found this article and I am very honored that you would include me on this list. I see that many people have responded to you and feel that many others should have been on the list. I agree with Jason Dean that Stacie Parker should have been on it. For the guys, there are too many to list.
I haven't played basketball in a long time, so you may think differently today, but it's appreciated.
I hope all is well with you. Thanks again for the recognition.