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964th AACS defeats 72nd SFS in intramural hoops

  • Published
  • By John E. Banks
  • Tinker Public Affairs
TINKER AIR FORCE BASE, Okla., --  Though the weather outside the Gerrity Fitness and Sports Center was chilly Dec. 15, the basketball game between the 964th Airborne Air Control Squadron and 72nd Security Forces Squadron kept the inside hot.

Before the game, Sports Director Pat Griffin said the game should be exciting as both teams were evenly matched and still trying to find their rhythm early in the new season. In the end, the packed house of spectators saw the 964th AACS defeat the 72nd SFS 44-40.

The game started with a furious pace as 964th AACS forward Joshua Allen scored two baskets in the first minute of play, giving his team a 4-0 lead. The 72nd SFS responded with its own rally as Ray McKinley and Nicholas Ketchum each scored to tie the score at 4 apiece.

Both sides traded baskets for the rest of the first half and 964th AACS never had a lead of more than two points. At the break, the 964th AACS held a slight 24-22 advantage. The second half was as fast paced as the first. The 72nd SFS applied full court pressure to speed up the game. That tactic paid off as they held a 34-24 lead at the 3:10 mark of the second half.

The 964th AACS rallied its troops to surge ahead behind the play of Allen and fellow forward Lucas Westerman. They scored six points apiece during a four-minute stretch to put the 964th AACS back in the lead at 40-35 lead with two minutes left in the contest. The 72nd SFS tied the score at 40 behind five-consecutive points by forward Aubrey Quarles, including a three point play with 55 seconds remaining.

The deciding basket came as Allen drove the lane and dished off to Westerman, who put the ball in the hoop giving the 964th AACS side a lead they would never relinquish. Kevin Archer added two free throws in the waning seconds to put the 964th AACS up 44-40.

"We played a spirited and exciting game tonight. I was very pleased with our team's performance," Allen said. "Our defense was the key to the victory tonight." The star of the game for the 964th AACS was center William Jones, who had a team-high 14 points and 11 rebounds.

Quarles was the star of the game for the 72nd SFS. He scored a team-high 11 points and grabbed 12 rebounds.

The win improves the 964th AACS record to 1-1. The loss drops the 72nd SFS to 1-2 on the season.