There can be only one: FSS versus BDS

  • Published
  • By Airman 1st Class Nicholas Benroth
  • 23rd Wing Public Affairs
MOODY AIR FORCE BASE, Ga. --  On March 7, members from the 23rd Force Support Squadron went toe-to-toe against the 822nd Base Defense Squadron, but only one came away with the right to be called intramural basketball champions.

Both teams gave their all to earn the title at the end of the night, but one team could win. That team was FSS, who edged out the 822nd in overtime to win 68 to 61.

Foul trouble and injuries did not slow either team as scores soared throughout the game. The close match brought the game to overtime. ,
"The games are about having fun and that what we try to do on the team," said Stacey Bradshaw, 23rd FSS coach. "The game is about teamwork and sharing the ball and that's exactly what we did in this game."

The game tipped off with the 822nd charging hard taking a 12-2 lead within the first four minutes of game play. Any attempts made by the FSS to close the gap were shot down by the mighty 822nd.

Aaron Yarbrough, 822nd BDS basketball team member made a jump shot to keep his team in the lead, 18-6.

After that basket the 822nd went cold and gave FSS the opportunity to close the gap. Blake Williams, a member of the FSS team, helped his team with a field goal and brought his team to 17-18 with 10 minutes to go in the first half.

It was only a matter of time before FSS was able to take the lead for their first time in the game, the score 19-18.

The 822nd began to lose control of the game, slowly falling behind and going into halftime with a score of 34-31. This left the 822nd down by a mere three points.

After the halftime break FSS came out guns blazing raising their lead eventually getting to a 10-point lead with only 12 minutes to go in the game.

The clock began to wind down for both teams with FSS able to keep a strong hold on their lead keeping the deficit to 10, the score 52-43 with 10 minutes to go.

The 822nd offense began to pick up and was relentless on the defense of the FSS until they took the lead for the first time since the first half, the score being 53-52 with only 6 minutes left.

The 822nd knew it was the right moment for a time out, when there was only 26 seconds to go the ball in their hands and the score tied 57-57. After the ball was inbounded one of their three-point shooters was able to sink the shot and gave them the lead by three with only seconds to spare.

Things were looking grim for FSS but an open look for point guard Arrington Perry put two more points on the board.

With only seconds left he sunk the shot tying the score again, 60-60, and sending the teams into overtime.

The 822nd won the jump ball and the race for time started, both teams had seven minutes to take the lead and win.

It wasn't till FSS's Angel Brown grabbed a crucial shot to give them the lead 62- 60. From here on, the 822nd was locked out, FSS pulled ahead to finally win the game the score 68-61.

"We have faced the 822nd BDS before and we knew what to expect," said Perry. "We were lacking on defense so we knew we had to strengthen our defense and keep them from scoring.

"Most teams are made up of one or two good guys who score 30 or 40 points a game but we work as a team," he added. There is not just one person who carries the team it's a joint effort and that's how we win."