552nd MXS sinks SCW-1 with OT buzzer beater Published March 19, 2009 By John E. Banks Tinker Public Affairs TINKER AIR FORCE BASE, Okla., -- Championship games are often billed as the "best of the best." The 2009 version of base basketball championship -- pitting the 552nd Maintenance Squadron against Strategic Communications Wing ONE -- lived up to that billing. The night ended with a 35-34 overtime victory by 552nd MXS squad March 11 at the Gerrity Fitness and Sports Center. At the start of the game, both teams were extremely tight on the offensive end. The 552nd MXS exerted it dominance on the offensive boards as they raced to an early 4-0 lead behind forward Kirk Sheppard. He scored on two rebound baskets early in the first half. SCW-1 responded as center Llewellyn Giles and guard Travis Carter scored from inside the paint tying the score at 4 apiece at 4:25 of the first half. The remainder of the first was a close knit affair as both team traded baskets. Sheppard added three more field goals for the 552nd MXS and Carter did the same for SCW-1. As the buzzer sounded the score was knotted at 15. "Our defense has some holes in it," said Sheppard. "We need to tighten up and close up the lane. We had a lot of chances to score early and we missed our shots." In the second half, the 552nd MXS held a slim 20-19 lead, behind two consecutive baskets by reserve guard Marcus Terry. The lead swapped back and forth over the next 10 minutes of action as neither side had a lead larger than two points. With just 15 seconds remaining, SCW-1 held a 28-26. The 552nd MXS's Sheppard received a pass from guard Gary Cuyler on the left wing, drove to the basket and banked in a 5-foot shot to tie the contest as the buzzer sounded. The crowd went berserk. The next phase of the championship game was a 3-minute overtime period. SCW-1 seemed to have the upper hand as Carter scored six consecutive points, giving his side a 34-32 lead with 11 seconds remaining. After a timeout, the 552nd MXS in-bounded the ball and passed it around the perimeter. The ball then made it to Cuyler, who gathered his feet and sank a deep, three-point field goal at the buzzer to give MXS the title. The fans rushed the court and swarmed Cuyler as the hero of the contest. "That was an exciting game," said Kelvin Kearney, a fan sitting at courtside. "We played a solid game all night. We just came up a little short at the end," said Freddrick Tillman, SCW-1 head coach. "Our congratulations to the 552nd MXS." Sheppard, who tallied 12 points and grabbed 12 rebounds led the way for the 552nd MXS. SCW-1 was led by Carter, who poured in 12 points.