Whether with three-point field goals, rebounded put-backs and tip-ins, turn-around jumpers or fast-break, highlight reel-making alley-oops, the Joint Base Myer-Henderson Hall Generals flexed their offensive muscles Presidents Day weekend at the 2012 Capital Classic.
But JBM-HH coach Marcus Hall knew a quick handed defense would win a championship. And as sure as the usual 90-point offensive game and the stifling half-court trap employed by the Generals, the JBM-HH men's Army team nabbed the 2012 Capital Classic trophy after four days of tournament play.
The Generals averaged over 93 points per game during their five victories in the JBM-HH basketball tournament. The Army team rolled with early round victories against NSA-Bethesda [116-72], Fort Bragg Gooseneck [85-57] and Camp Lejeune [95-76] before coming face-to-face with tournament favorite and defending champ Fort Bragg.
An early Presidents Day morning semi-final victory [81-72) paired with a Quantico Bulldog victory at Smith Gym produced a Marine-Army championship scenario for Monday's championship game. A cross-base rivalry also now existed since JBM-HH Marines play for the Quantico squad.
While the Generals disassembled early-round teams with effective half-court and three-quarter court defensive presses, the JBM-HH Army squad received big championship minutes from tourney most valuable player Reginald Hawkins and an assortment of second- and third-chance baskets as coach Hall's team fought off a major challenge from the Quantico Bulldogs with a 91-82 title game victory.
"It was good continuity, good ball movement and we played excellent defense -- that's allowed us to excel and move on in this tournament," Hall said. "We played collective defense.
"A lot of times, [these tournament games are] like a boxing match where you try to look at how teams will play against you," Hall added about sizing up tourney opponents. "We feel teams out for the first three or four minutes and then we change up from what they normally see. We go from a full court press to a half court press to keep the opposition totally off-guard."
Montavious Waters led all scorers in the championship game with 27 points while teammate Hawkins was close behind with 26 points in 40 minutes of play. Ernest Hassell turned offensive rebounds into tip-in points for 11 and big man Will Lewis drained another 11 points in the title game offensive effort.
Offensive rebounding played a key element in the JBM-HH championship victory as the hosts pulled in eight second half offensive boards and converted five of those into field goals.
"They're a solid team, a big team," said Quantico coach James Jones. "I knew we were going to have a problem on the boards because we're missing our starting power forward. We gave it our best [against JBM-HH]. They hit the offensive glass; I have to give them credit for that."