U.S. Armed Forces Men capture international basketball title

By Armed Forces Sports OfficeDecember 15, 2014

Dunk
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The U.S. Armed Forces Men's Basketball team defeated Lithuania, the reigning champs, 89-82 to win the 2014 SHAPE International Basketball Championship Dec. 6.

Air Force Capt. Matt Holland of Hanscom Air Force Base, Mass., was named Most Valuable Player of the six-day tournament that featured teams from Italy, Kuwait, Latvia, France, Canada, United Kingdom and Belgium.

Team USA went undefeated throughout the tournament to capture the gold for the first time since 2010. Lithuania was positioned to win their third straight title, but the U.S. took off to an early lead in the championship game and held strong to steal the title.

First held in 1960, the annual SHAPE International Basketball Tournament is NATO's largest sports competition, attracting numerous NATO and Partners For Peace nations from around the globe.

Gen. Philip Breedlove, the Supreme Allied Commander-Europe, was in attendance during the finals to give closing remarks and present the awards.

The U.S. Armed Forces Men's Basketball team will next compete at the 6th Conseil International du Sport Militaire World Military Games, Oct. 2-11, 2015, in South Korea.

The Installation Management Command's Soldier and Community Recreation Armed Forces Sports office is the executive agent for international sports competition such as SHAPE and CISM. The program is one of many Army Morale, Welfare and Recreation activities designed to improve quality of life, resiliency, camaraderie and health and fitness through organized sports.

Final Standings: 1st -- USA; 2nd -- Lithuania; 3rd -- Italy; 4th -- Kuwait; 5th -- Latvia; 6th -- France; 7th -- Canada; 8th -- United Kingdom; 9th -- Belgium

U.S. Armed Forces Basketball Roster:

Senior Airman Lortavius Smith -- Air Force (Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam, Hawaii) -- Guard

Staff Sgt. Corey -- Rucker -- Air Force (Warren Air Force Base, Wyo.) -- Guard

2nd lt. Michael Fitzgerald -- Air Force (Hurlburt Field, Fla.) -- Forward

Airman 1st Class Kyle Duncan -- Air Force (Kadena Air Base, Japan) -- Forward

1st Lt. Evan Washington -- Air Force (Hill Air Force Base, Utah) -- Guard

Capt. Matt Holland -- Air Force (Hanscom Air Force Base, Mass.) -- Forward

Petty Officer 2nd Class Alfonso Evans -- Navy (Naval Air Base, Little Creek, Va.) -- Forward

Petty Officer 2nd Class Johnny Fuller -- Navy (Norfolk Naval Base, Va.) -- Guard

Senior Airman Jahmal Lawson -- Air Force (Aviano Air Base, Italy) -- Forward

2nd lt. David Burns -- Air Force (Peterson Air Force Base, Colo.) -- Center

2nd lt. Mike Lyons -- Air Force (Peterson Air Force Base, Colo.) -- Guard

Mr. Dwayne Reed -- Air Force (Lackland AFB, Texas) -- Coach

Mr. Steve Brown -- Air Force ( Lackland AFB, Texas) -- Chief Of Mission

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