CHARLESTON AIR FORCE BASE, S.C. –
A Team Charleston Airman coached a base youth basketball team that finished second in the state at the 2008 South Carolina Athletic Programs State Tournament at the Sports and Fitness Center here Saturday.
Senior Airman Charles Barbee, 437th Communications Squadron Official Mail Center information management journeyman, was the head coach for the base's boys youth basketball team for ages 15 to 17.
"Nobody expected us to make it as far as we did," said Airman Barbee. "But now some people see us as the strongest team Charleston has ever had. Normally when you hear Charleston and basketball, they don't go in the same sentence together. People have heard about our baseball team; but now we put Charleston AFB and basketball on the map ... don't look past us. We'll surprise you."
Airman Barbee volunteered his time to coach the 14-person team for two hours every Friday since the season began Jan. 4. Out of the 14 members on the team, 10 were allowed to play in the tournament.
"Though some didn't get to play, they still went along to support their team," said Airman Barbee. "To me, the boys in the stands were just as important as the ones on the court because somebody's got to be there to let you know you can do it."
Airman Barbee is no stranger to basketball having played it through his youth, college, and coaching and playing on Air Force teams at other bases.
"At first, I just volunteered to coach as a time filler," said Airman Barbee. "But when I saw the team I had, they surprised me and they gave me more motivation to go beyond my expectations of them. They had respect for us right from the beginning. They showed us they were there to learn and they paid attention."
This is his first time volunteering to coach a youth basketball team at this base since he arrived here in May 2005.
"My goal was to teach these kids what it's like to work with other people and what it's like to work with people they've never met before -- like we often deal with in the workplace," said Airman Barbee.
He said that he is very proud of his team and hopes they take what they learned from him and put it toward tryouts on a more advanced level like high school and college teams.
However, Airman Barbee didn't lead the team to the championship all by himself. His assistant coaches were Kevin Poland, an Army retiree, and Lamar Hancock, and Air Force veteran. Master Sgt. Marian James, 437th Aerial Port Squadron; Tech. Sgt. Joseph Lujan, 437th Medical Group; Airman 1st Class Alfonso Rogers, 15th Airlift Squadron; and Ron Keur were volunteer referees during the state tournament. Also contributing more than 20 hours of their time as referees for a successful base youth basketball season were Col. John "Red" Millander, 437th Airlift Wing commander; Sergeant Lujan; and Melanie Fields, 437th Services Squadron.
The team completed their season 16-8. They won second in the state out of 46 districts.