TINKER AIR FORCE BASE, Okla. -- The 424th rallied in the second half to overcome a wide Garbage lead Jan. 25, only to lose to a buzzer-beating basket in the last 8 seconds.
The teams entered the Gerrity Center with nearly identical intramural basketball records, promising – and delivering – a potentially competitive match-up.
Scoring was close midway through the first half. Garbage’s 6-foot-11 center Wade McGlashen contributed a 3-pointer while teammate Jesar Davis landed two of the same. The 424th’s Kendall Myers dropped in two treys.
Garbage ate up scoring, though, in the last 5 minutes, starting with another 3-pointer from Davis. The team built a 17-12 lead, slowing the pace and going mostly unchallenged for the ball. A Carlos Pettit steal and breakaway layup capped an 11-point halftime lead for Garbage, 23-12.
Garbage maintained scoring pressure in the second half, quickly posting their biggest lead of the game – 16 points at 31-15.
The wide margin disappeared, though, as the 424th’s Gabe Miller exploded with a barrage of 3-pointers. He dropped four in a row in 5 minutes. His last one narrowed the score to 37-37.
Holding the lead 39-38 with 2 minutes remaining, 424 slowed the tempo with perimeter passing. A missed shot led to a Garbage rebound and McGlashen hitting pay dirt in the paint for a 40-39 edge.
The 424th’s Myers responded with an aggressive fast dribble down the length of the court for a layup with less than a minute left. The third lead change boosted the 424th to a 41-40 edge.
Garbage’s defense regrouped into a full-court press and tactical fouls with the clock ticking down. Sending the 424th to the free throw line twice, shooters missed chances both times.
Garbage gained back the ball at their own end line for the final play. Pettit zipped the ball to the big man in the paint, McGlashen, who lofted the ball to the hole for a 42-41 victory.
Myers was the 424th’s, and the game’s, lead scorer with 18, followed by Miller with 16. Garbage’s McGlashen led his team with 16 points.