Yokosuka squad wins Hawaii hoops tourney

NAVSUP FLC Yokosuka CMC Steven Horton and his youth basketball team won the 2017 Pacific Rim Championships held in Hawaii June 30-July 2. The kids that comprise the team all attend Kinnick High School in Yokosuka and have families serving on active duty or as U.S. civil servants.

"These kids worked really hard to get here and to get to this level," said Horton. "I'm very proud of them for winning."

Horton took over as president of the Yoko Xpress Youth Basketball Team (YXYBT) (https://www.facebook.com/YokoExpress2011/ ) back in 2013.The YXYBT mission is to enhance the basketball skills of young men and women from grades six to eight in an environment that allows them to compete and play at the high school level. The Kinnick team is the first high school team that Horton has coached and taken to the championships.

"This is a great opportunity for kids to have fun in a positive environment," said Horton. "I've gotten tremendous satisfaction from seeing them grow into young adults and watching them compete at a higher level."

YXYBT was founded in 2011 to provide a quality basketball program for all youth. The organization strives to maintain good community relations and promote a positive team environment.

Winning team roster:

Andree Roberts

Kaine Roberts

Kendrick Stockman

Davion Roberts

Bryan Hunt

D'Angelo Burford

Garica Gaither

Kavan Horton

Gage Henderson