Varsity Men's Basketball: Tinker Hawks soar to victory over Whiteman Warriors Published March 26, 2008 By John E. Banks Tinker Public Affairs TINKER AIR FORCE BASE -- While basketball fanatics have been concentrating on the road to the Final Four, the Tinker Hawks have been paving their way toward the Southwest Men's Military basketball tournament. The Hawks continued their recent success with a 79-50 win over the visiting Whiteman Warriors at the Gerrity Fitness and Sports Center on March 22. The Hawks, who had already lost twice to the team from Missouri, were primed and ready for a successful day on the hardwood. "The Hawks are playing better both offensively and defensively in recent weeks," said head coach Clarence Griffin before the game. "We are riding a modest two-game win streak and are hoping to continue that today against a very talented team." The Hawks raced out to an early 21-3 lead and were never challenged the rest of the way. Forward Gerard West and guard Marquis Mitchell each scored six points in the first five minutes to fuel the run. The Hawks defense limited the Warriors to only five field goals. The offense also kept up the pressure. Mitchell and West scored 11 points apiece and the Hawks led 35-21 at the half. At the start of the second half, forward Tony Cohen scored seven points over a two-minute stretch and the Hawks lead increased to 49-29. The Hawks held their opponents in check for the remainder of the contest and beat the Warriors 79-50, increasing their win streak to three and improving their overall record to 13-10. Cohen scored 12 points to lead the Hawks. Mitchell and West both finished with 11 points. The Warriors were led Ronald Everett and Reginald Hayes, who scored 18 and 16 points, respectively. "Our team has three dynamite and very fast point guards -- Mitchell, Ron Perry and Matthew Mullins -- and no other team in the league has that advantage," Griffin said. "This is going to make our team very difficult to handle in the future." The Hawks play in the Southwest Men's Military Basketball League tournament at Sheppard Air Force Base, Texas, this weekend.