Taipei gives Okinawa teams a new challenge

Kubasaki's Dylan Canlas drives for a shot against Taipei American during Sunday's Taipei Basketball Exchange boys game. The Tigers won 72-58; the Dragons split their two games with the Tigers. DAVE ORNAUER/STARS AND STRIPES

Taipei gives Okinawa teams a new challenge

by Dave Ornauer

Stars and Stripes

January 20, 2020

KADENA AIR BASE, Okinawa – What a change an opponent makes. Kadena’s girls basketball team won its first four games against Okinawa-based American and international school foes by an average of 37½ points.

But over the weekend against Taipei American, that narrative completely flipped.

The Tigers pummeled the Panthers on Saturday and Sunday, with Kadena – the Far East Division I Tournament runner-up the last three years – falling by an average of 27½ points.

Worse for the Panthers, they lost All-Far East guard Atiria Simms, battling a knee ACL injury, when she landed awkwardly on her left leg after shooting the ball in the second quarter of Saturday’s game.

Read more at: https://www.stripes.com/1.615424

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