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Flight Controllers beat Bobbleheads in intramural hoops

  • Published
  • By Brandice J. O'Brien
  • Tinker Public Affairs
TINKER AIR FORCE BASE, Okla. --  The Flight Controllers sure know how to start an intramural basketball season.

Just days after winning the first game of the season, the Flight Controllers took on and beat the 552nd AMXS "Bobbleheads" Feb. 13 at the Gerrity Fitness and Sports Center main gymnasium. They won 44-33.

"We did alright, but we can do a lot better," said Kelvin Kearney, Flight Controllers coach. "We haven't found our stride yet. We will get better as the season goes along. We missed some players tonight."

The game began with the Bobbleheads scoring the first shot, a 3-pointer. The Flight Controllers' Robert Lawrence scored two points roughly two minutes later. Lawrence's teammate Cedric Street then scored two more points for the Flight Controllers. Within seconds, the Bobbleads' Brandon Savage stole the ball from the Flight Controllers and scored another two points. With 12 minutes left in the first half, the score was tied at five points apiece.

A minute later, Street made a three point shot and despite several attempts by the Bobbleheads, they would never regain the lead.

With 10 minutes left in the half, a timeout was called. The Flight Controllers came back with a vengeance. In mere minutes, Vince Yohannon scored five points and the Bobbleheads, just two. The score held steady at 14-7, but it wouldn't last long.

After several foul shots, played by both teams, and the course of regular play, the score jumped to 31-16 at halftime.

When the teams regrouped on the court, the Bobbleheads made a play for points. In the first two minutes of the second half, the Flight Controllers scored a single point when Lawrence made a foul shot. The team held steady at 32 points for several minutes, while the Bobbleheads made a heroic attempt to catch up. The Bobbleheads Savage and Roderick Ivory scored six points for their team, making the score 32-22.

The Flight Controllers called a time out and when they came back to the court, piled on the points. In the remaining minutes of the game, the Flight Controllers added nine points, primarily from foul shots scored by Anthony "Smitty" Smith and Elbert Craig. Savage and Ivory added 11 points to the Bobbleheads' final score.

The game ended with the Flight Controllers winning 44-33.