Med Grp sews up battle of the 72s

72 MDG’s Zhamar McAdory leaps for a shot between Security Forces’ Travis White, left, and Joseph Currie, in the Dec. 9 contest that Med Group won 59-40 at the Gerrity Fitness Center. Games will resume Jan. 11 after a holiday break and a week to install new bleachers in the gym. (Air Force photos by John Parker/Released)

Med Group sews up battle of the 72s

Published Dec. 18, 2015
By John Parker
Staff writer

TINKER AIR FORCE BASE, Okla. -- Speed and snake-bite steals proved too much for 72 SFS Dec. 9, but not before Security Forces threatened a comeback early in the second half.

72 MDG topped Security Forces 59-40 in their first meeting of the intramural basketball season. The teams are in the Monday/Wednesday night league.

Security Forces took an early 6-4 lead with disciplined perimeter passing and the game's first 3. Med Group, however, quickly unleashed their defensive speed as Tahj Fuller and Jarvis Bradley combined to force four turnovers. At 8:59 left in the 16-minute half, MDG's lead climbed to 21-10.

Still battling a strong defense, 72 SFS also struggled to score. Med Group filled baskets to overflowing, including Patrick Allen's trio of consecutive treys, to climb to 38-17. The half ended 38-18.

The speedy Allen and team captain Zhamar McAdory harassed SFS on both ends of the court in that half and later. Allen was the game's high scorer - 16 - followed by McAdory with 14.

Med Group changed their lineup at the start of the second half, while Security Forces bumped up their attack.

With the game 44-22 with nine minutes left, 72 SFS didn't allow a Med Group score for the next six minutes, cutting MDG's lead to 44-35. Security Forces benefited from higher basket percentages and a spate of fouls by MDG that SFS capitalized into points. Antoine Simmons was the team's high scorer with eight.

Med Group rallied back at 2:35 with the same intensity that fueled their halftime lead. Although SFS fouled to slow them down, Med Group ended the game with nearly the same point margin as they held at halftime.

McAdory said the team substituted in the second half to give SFS a different look.
"They slowly, but surely, came within nine and we decided to make a change," McAdory said. "I thought it was a test of their pride. I was glad to see my fellow Airmen fight back."

Week of games canceled
Sports Director Pat Griffin announced some good news/bad news for intramural basketball next year.

The bad news is that all games in the first week of January are canceled. The good news is that the Gerrity Fitness Center gym is getting new bleachers.

Workers will be installing the bleachers that week and the games will be rescheduled, Ms. Griffin said.

The new bleachers will improve options for spectators who currently stand or sit on the floor or use a limited number of available folding chairs.

"Thank you all for your patience and understanding, and as always, thanks for all you do for the sports program on base," Ms. Griffin told coaches and players in an email.