Ramstein falls short in tournament

Heidelberg got the best of Ramstein not once, but twice during the Kaiserslautern Christmas Classic basketball tournament Dec. 16 to 19 at Kleber Fitness Center and Gymnasium on Kleber Kaserne.

Ramstein overcame a third round defeat to Heidelberg to reach the finals and play them again for the championship. The tournament was in double elimination format, which meant a team has to lose twice to be eliminated.

Therefore, Ramstein would have to defeat Heidelberg, who was undefeated in the tournament, twice to repeat as tournament champions.

“It was an exciting day of basketball,” said Jason Glenn, Ramstein assistant coach.

Ramstein wouldn’t go down without a fight. Led by center Austin Layton’s 20 points, Ramstein beat Heidelberg in a nail-biter 73-72.
Layton also led the team in rebounds and point guard Robert Batiste led the team in assists.

The next game decided the championship with Heidelberg outlasting Ramstein 70-68.

Ramstein was again led in scoring by Layton with 16 points. Power forward Larry Senegal led in rebounding and Batiste led in assists for the second straight game.

Ramstein’s next tournament is the Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. tournament Jan. 14 to 18 in Heidelberg.

“We can play better,” said Glenn. “We will win the next tournament.”