Basketball: Zama, Kadena seen as favorites in girls tourneys

While some teams look at a basketball tournament as a “go hard or go home” deal, Chloe Sterling says she and her Zama teammates have their own spin on that expression: “Go hard or go hard.”

“Because there is no other option,” said Sterling, the star sophomore guard and reigning Most Valuable Player for the defending Far East Division II girls basketball champion Trojans.

They launch their bid for a second straight Far East title Thursday when the Division I and II tournaments commence at Kadena. Each tournament features combined pool play and single-elimination rounds with consolation.

Zama has won four straight tournament titles, including last year’s Far East, the last two DODEA-Japans and last month’s American School In Japan Kanto Classic, led by their All-Far East returners, Sterling (22.6 points per game), Jessica Atkinson (11.8) and Kirari Smith (11.3).

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