Travis Airmen post-up for Air Force basketball team

Published April 26, 2012
By Tyler Grimes
60th Air Mobility Wing Public Affairs

TRAVIS AIR FORCE BASE, Calif. -- Two Travis Airmen recently represented the Air Force's women's basketball team in the 2012 Women's Armed Forces Basketball Tournament.

Staff Sgt. Ricka Spears, 60th Communications Squadron cyber systems operations technician and Airman 1st Class Tilah Worthy, 60th Aerial Port Squadron ramp services porter, laced up their sneakers March 25 for the week-long event.

The team took third in the round-robin style event behind the Navy, who took first place and the Army, who took second in the championship game. In the consolation game, Spears and Worthy helped their team close out the Marine Corps for the victory. While their journey on the Air Force team ended that day, having the chance to sport Air Force jerseys began when Spears and Worthy joined the Travis basketball team.

"At first, I didn't even think about trying out for (the Air Force) team until my coach and other players on the team said I should go for it," Worthy said. "I said 'OK, I'll give it a shot.'"

For Spears, a deployment prohibited her from trying out for the team last year. When she returned she immediately got back on the court. With a great deal of practice and hard work, she tried out and made the final round this year.

"It was exciting to finally get to go and experience it," Spears said.

After two weeks of grueling Air Force-level try outs, they received the news they made the team.

"It was a sigh of relief because there was a lot of competition," Worthy said. "Just to be chosen to represent the Air Force was a big honor."

During the tournament, Worthy's small stature suited her well as a forward while Spears played in the post.

"If we weren't starting, you could still come off the bench and still keep a high level of intensity," Worthy said. "That's the kind of team we had in the Air Force, it could not have been better."

For any aspiring Air Force athlete, Worthy and Spears have some advice. She said trying to compete at the tier requires dedication and a passion for the game.

"Be physically and mentally prepared because when you go that's your job," Spears said. "You're getting paid to play that sport, so they are going to expect a lot out of you."

Although the tournament is over for this year, both Airmen intend on trying out again next year, they said.

"It was a really cool experience to be able to represent the Air Force," Spears said. "I'm looking forward to doing it next year and try to take the gold this time."