Tyndall hoopsters take aim at Air Force team

  • Published
  • By Staff Sgt. Timothy R. Capling
  • 325th Fighter Wing Public Affairs
TYNDALL AIR FORCE BASE, Fla. --  Four Tyndall Lady Tiger basketball players were selected to participate in the 2008 All-Air Force Women's Basketball Trial Camp March 2-19 at Travis AFB, Calif.

If selected, they will represent the Air Force team in the 2008 Armed Forces Women's Championship March 20-28 at Fort Indiantown Gap, Penn., and if mission permits, the National Counseil International du Sport Militaire April 12-23 at Lackland AFB, Texas. Six out of the 19 tryout slots went to players from Air Education and Training Command.

The four selected from Tyndall are: 2nd Lt. Monica Mason, 325th Mission Support Squadron officer in charge of customer service and readiness, Staff Sgt. Mariela Miles, 325th Civil Engineer Squadron firefighter, Airman 1st Class Richere Harrison, 325th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron integrated avionics technician, and Airman 1st Class Tiffanie Guthrie, 325th Communications Squadron assistant base forms and publications manager.

Lieutenant Mason is trying out for the Air Force team for the first time, but her basketball background is extensive. In addition to playing for the Tyndall Lady Tigers, she also played basketball at the collegiate level and coached the 325th MSS intramural basketball team for the 2007-2008 season.

"I am definitely eager, excited and grateful to be given the opportunity to represent Tyndall Air Force Base and the Air Force while playing a sport I've always enjoyed," Lieutenant Mason said. "I've been spending the last month trying to get in the best physical and mental condition before the camp. I know it is going to be challenging, but I think we are all up for the challenge!"

Sergeant Miles was selected for the tryout for the third time, but will not be able to attend due to an injury.

"With the talent coming from this base, there's no doubt in my mind that they'll make it," she said. "I played on the gold medal winning teams in 2004 and 2005. Personally, I wanted this year to be another gold winning one. The players take a lot of pride in representing the Air Force and I know that this year will be no different so I'll be cheering on our girls and hoping they bring home the gold."

Airman Harrison has been playing basketball since she was in the ninth grade, to include a two-year stint playing at the junior college level, is trying out for the first time and looking forward to the challenge.

"I know it's going to be a lot of hard work for me," she said. "I know it's not going to be all fun and games when we get down there, but I'm excited to be going."

Tech. Sgt. Tricia Bell, 95th Fighter Squadron aircrew flight equipment NCO in charge, coached all four players for the Tyndall Lady Tigers who recently lost to the Ft. Benning Lady Bandits in the Southeastern Military Athletic Conference championship after a perfect regular season.

Sergeant Bell expects her players to perform well at the tryout. She said the players performed outstanding throughout the season, even when the team had a shortage of players due to mission requirements.

"They were the best choices to represent Tyndall and the Air Force," she said. "I expect all of them to make it."