TINKER AIR FORCE BASE, Okla. -- The 72nd Med Group nearly blew a 13 half-time lead but held on to defeat Contracting 58-47, in a night of intramural action.
Contracting struck first, which would be their only lead of the game. After six points by Floyd Paschall, 72nd MDG responded with a vengeance. A team who was smaller in stature, the Med Group’s agility ended up being too refined for the contractors.
The Med Group’s squad seemed to specialize in more elaborate styles of play, with lots of one-handed, behind-the-back or under-the-leg passes before taking it to the basket. The Medics seemed more comfortable shooting from both in the paint as well as outside the key. They also out-rebounded their opponents.
The momentum Contracting lacked in the first half of the game immediately picked up at the start of the second. Down 13 at the half, Contracting’s most promising rally put them seven points in reach of a lead with 8:29 remaining. With both teams able to substitute fresh bodies in and out, there was consistent energy from both benches.
Another fancy layup from MDG’s Bradley gave Contracting possession. But, poor ball control forced a quick turnover and a defense which was unable to recover allowed another two point tally for the Medics.
The final timeout of the game came with only 49 seconds left of play with the Medics on top, 54-46. The remaining minutes included two more buckets from the 72nd and one free throw from Contracting.
Contracting’s Paschall recorded 21 of his team’s 47 points. Eighteen of those 21 points were threes. The leading scorer for the Medics was Bradley with 18.