Pacific
D-II boysTrojans get a little revenge on way to championship
Stars and Stripes
February 5, 2025
Yokota's Jai Bailey drives against Zama's Ayden Helton. Bailey was named D-II boys MVP last year; Helton received the honor Wednesday in this year's tournament. (Ashley Angell/Special to Stripes)
OSAN AIR BASE, South Korea – Eight days earlier, Zama watched a 10-point lead evaporate in a two-point defeat at Yokota.
In Wednesday’s rematch – which happened to be the Far East Division II final – the Trojans left nothing to chance.
Senior guard Ayden Helton led the way with 26 points, Casey Stewart added 17 and Zama broke the game open with a 25-8 second quarter en route to a 79-57 rout of the Panthers, dethroning Yokota after a two-year run as champion.
Zama's Asher Jorgensen and Yokota's Baron Reed battle for the ball. (Ashley Angell/Special to Stripes)
Osan's Ben Ziegler goes up against Perry's Luis Mendoza for a rebound. (Ashley Angell/Special to Stripes)
Osan's Art Clemons dribbles against Perry's Calvin Shapland. (Ashley Angell/Special to Stripes)
“We just learned from our mistakes and didn’t make the same mistakes,” Helton’s father and Trojans coach Sentwali Helton said. “We focused and we said we wouldn’t let that happen again.”
Toward that end, the Trojans executed their roles beyond just Helton filling the basket with shots.
Asher Jorgensen took care of the boards, pulling down 15 rebounds. Bruce Davidson gave the Panthers’ ballhandlers fits, the elder Helton said, recording eight steals. The Trojans held reigning D-II Most Valuable Player Jai Bailey of Yokota to just two foul shots.
“We kind of frustrated them with defensive pressure,” Helton said.
“I have to give it to Zama. They were prepared,” Panthers coach and Jai’s father James Bailey said. “We fell apart before the half and it continued into the second half. … Zama had a better gameplan.”
The Trojans finished 24-3 on the season, including a 2-1 ledger against Yokota. The Panthers closed the campaign at 14-14.
“It was an extreme learning experience and it paid off tremendously,” Helton said of the Jan. 28 epiphany at Yokota. “A minor setback for a major comeback.”
