TINKER AIR FORCE BASE, Okla. -- The 552 MXS 1 team lived up to their name, topping squadron rival 552 MXS 2 by three points.
The Maintenance Squadron teams met for the first time in the intramural season, which will wind head into the playoffs next week.
Both teams came into the game with identical 7-2 records.
MXS 1 built a widening lead from the first buzzer, with excellent shooting from Ja’Quan Williams. His layup with five minutes left in the first half gave MXS 1 a seven-point scoring lead at 16-9.
MXS 2 responded with two baskets and a foul shot – all unanswered – to narrow MXS 1’s lead to two points at 16-14. Williams delivered a layup and hit a free throw to stretch past MXS 2 by five points.
MXS 2’s John Schaef shot one of two goals that, added to another player’s foul shot, brought his team within one point, 19-18, of MXS 1 with about a minute left in the half. MXS 1 dropped in a layup for the 21-18 halftime lead.
Scoring stayed close in the second half until Mario Campbell netted a 3-pointer, followed shortly by another trey from Williams. MXS 1’s lead grew to eight points at the nine-minute mark, ahead 30-22.
As in the first half, MXS 2 quickly shot back into contention. Josh West, with two baskets, and Keegan Biasi, with a score outside the arc, changed the scoreboard to 30-29 in favor of MXS 1. The teams tied at 31-31, and later 33-33, with two minutes to go.
Williams came through in the clutch, sinking two foul shots for MXS 1 to go ahead 33-35. Teammate Darrel Ellis followed his lead, giving MXS 1 a three-point lead, 36-33, with a free throw.
MXS 2 wasn’t through yet. Biasi was fouled and added two points from free throws. With seconds running down on a one point MXS 1 lead, Williams drove in for the layup and final score, 38-35.