14 Wing Greenwood’s basketball Bombers had a “tough go” at the February 24 to 27 Canadian Armed Forces Atlantic regionals, but “all is not for naught.”
Despite having three roster members suddenly unavailable for tournament play, with just nine leaving 14 Wing for Gagetown; then three athletes injured through early action and the eventual 0-4 tournament finish; “on a positive note,” says team coach Sergeant Wayne Jones, “the team cohesion was incredible.
“Even though we did not have a win, the atmosphere was positive, with lots of encouragement and laughs between teammates, on and off the court.”
Jones says limited full-team practices before regionals and new team members with some rust from younger playing years that didn’t get fully shaken off was “not ideal.
“We learned that the game is very intense and physical at that level,” Jones says.
Team captain Corporal Rich Ronbeck, the only 14 Wing player left on the team from the Bombers’ first-time 2024 national championship roster, says the first days of regional play set the on-court tone, with some members’ “nagging injuries” exacerbated, and then a game-play shoulder dislocation and an MCL sprain.
“We played out the afternoon game today (February 25) with six players… I only ended up playing three minutes total in our final game of the tournament.”
Jones said Greenwood did, in fact, finish out the tournament with six players for the last game-and-a-half, but he highlights Private Nick McNeil as having had a great tournament, with strong rebounding and overall play; Corporal Yannick Godon visibly “reigniting his passion for basketball;” and Sailor Third Class Anais Neron was reunited with a friend from her hometown, playing with 12 Wing Shearwater. Ronbeck also notes a standout performance from Master Corporal Matt McLeod, with 17 points in one game.
“While it was a rough tournament on the scoreboard and in the standings, our spirit could not be broken,” Ronbeck says. “The overall mood and vibe of things was very positive. All team members still appeared to have a lot of fun and seemed to just enjoy playing, which is the foundation of play: FUN.”
Ronbeck and Jones agree this year’s regional tournament was, in the end, a great introduction to military sport for most of the team’s players.
“We will have to get in the gym during the off season and work on our strength, cardio, basketball skills and IQ,” Jones says. “All team members are looking forward to next year. We hope to bring the team together much earlier next season, so we work on our game and be better prepared for regionals.”
