1st ACB flies to holiday hoops tourney win

Courtesy Photo | Members of the Headquarters and Headquarters Company,1st Air Cavalry Brigade, 1st Cavalry Division, basketball team celebrate winning the holiday basketball tournament Dec. 31 in Taji, Iraq. The team consists of, from left: Gary Campbell, Gregory Wilson, Jerry Pegram, Ron Calvert, Khallid Shabazz and Jeffrey Thomas. All of the Soldiers are assigned to 1st Air Cavalry Brigade except for Calvert, who is assigned to 1st Brigade Combat Team. Jamile Dingle, 1st ACB, also played in the tournament but was on rest and recuperation leave for the final game on Dec. 31.  

TAJI, IRAQ

01.03.2007

Courtesy Story

1st Air Cavalry Brigade, 1st Cavalry Division Public Affairs

By Sgt. 1st Class Rick Emert
1st Air Cavalry Brigade Public Affairs

TAJI, Iraq – Sports teams often rely on their team chaplain for a pre-game prayer and inspiration for victory.

But, for the 1st Air Cavalry Brigade headquarters team that played in the holiday basketball tournament at Taji, Iraq, the team's chaplain did more than inspire his teammates.

On the court, Khallid Shabazz sunk two free throws to the end the game and put the Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 1st ACB, team one point ahead of the 1st Brigade Combat Team, 21-20 in the tourney's final game. In the four-on-four tourney, games ended when a score of 21 was reached.

Shabazz, who hails from Alexandria, La., is the chaplain for the 1st Battalion, 227th Aviation Regiment, 1st ACB.

The team fared better than in the Thanksgiving tournament, where it took third place.

"We had just got the team together for the Thanksgiving tournament," said Valdosta, Ga., native Gary Campbell, HHC, 1st ACB. "This time, we knew how each other played."

Serving in a combat zone doesn't give Soldier-players much time for practice.

"Our practice consisted of the few times that we were able to get to the gym to play a pick-up game," said Philadelphia native Gregory Wilson, HHC, 1st ACB. "There wasn't any time that we were able to get the whole team together to practice."

The 1st ACB team was sent to the losers' bracket of the holiday tournament on Dec. 28 when it was handed a loss by the 1st BCT, Campbell said. On New Year's Eve, the 1st ACB squad had to beat the 1st BCT "Stallions" twice to win the double-elimination tournament.

"We kept playing better and better as a team each game we played," said Jeffrey Thomas, HHC, 1st ACB, a native of Fort Lauderdale, Fla.. "It was a heartfelt victory."

• Date Taken: 01.03.2007
• Date Posted: 01.03.2007 13:26
• Story ID: 8731
• Location: TAJI, IQ