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552nd TRS hits buzzer beater to defeat 72nd Med Group

  • Published
  • By John E. Banks
  • Tinker Public Affairs
TINKER AIR FORCE BASE, Okla., --  The basketball game of the year thus far pitted the 72nd Medical Group against the 552nd Training Squadron on Jan. 21 at the Gerrity Fitness and Sports Center.

The game did not disappoint with the 552nd TRS nailing a three-point field goal at the buzzer to claim the 37-34 victory.

The 552nd TRS took advantage early by racing to a 7-2 start behind the accuracy of forward Brian Hoey and guard Juwann Wilcox. They combined for seven points during the stretch.

The Med Group responded with a 13-3 run over the next five minutes. The surge was led by forward Cameron Graves who scored four field goals in five attempts giving his team a 15-10 lead at the 10:25 mark of the first half.

The rest of the half was a defensive affair as both teams struggled to score. The score at the end of first half was 19-15 in favor of the Med Group.

In the second half, both team traded baskets through the first 10 minutes and neither was able to seize a sizeable advantage.

The game was tied at 28 apiece with 5:47 left. The 552nd TRS took the lead on a fast break lay-up as Alford sprinted up the court and delivered a bounce pass to Hoey and put in to give their team a 30-28 advantage.

One minute later, the Med Group regrouped and tied the score at 30 as Graves followed up a missed shot by Vegas McNeal.

Hoey was sent to the charity stripe and connected on one of two free-throw attempts, giving the TRS a 31-30 lead.

Graves then made a short field goal and converted on two free-throws giving the Med Group their last lead of the 34-31.

The 552nd TRS then took over. Alford converted on a 35-foot three point field from the left baseline which tied the score at 34 with 46 seconds remaining.

The Med Group couldn't convert on a field goal attempt by Graves and the 552nd TRS got the ball and took a much needed timeout.

During the time out, Alford told his team they needed to take their time and get the last shot.

The point guard's words rang true. He took the ball and dribbled from the top of the key and delivered a quick pass to forward Kevin Williams who drained a three point field goal at the buzzer for a 37-34 victory.

"I knew I had a chance when I received the ball," said Williams.

Both teams now have a 3-4 record in the large squadron basketball standings. The player of the game for the 552nd TRS was Alford, who had six points and dished out a team-high seven assists, while Graves was the player of the game for 72nd Med Group, scoring 13 points and grabbing 12 rebounds.