CMS wins second consecutive basketball championship

  • Published
  • By Staff Sgt. Joel Mease
  • 7th Bomb Wing Public Affairs
DYESS AIR FORCE BASE, Texas --  Madness is just about to begin for college basketball, but for Dyess the annual March tradition was already in full swing as the 7th Component Maintenance Squadron defeated the 7th Medical Group 61-45 in the final game of the base-wide basketball double elimination tournament March 17. 

The previously undefeated CMS were consensus favorites to win their second straight championship; however, 7th MDG wouldn't go without a fight winning the first game 52 - 50 to force a second game. 

The first game was loaded with errors and lacked focus for the consensus favorites. Despite having two players with more than 15 points each, CMS struggled to keep up with MDG for most of the game. CMS had a chance to win or tie the game in the last eight seconds of the game, but was not able to get a shot off and turned the ball over. 

"We absolutely had no intensity in the first game," said Keith Williams, CMS coach. "We let them beat us. It hurt me the most to lose that game 52 - 50 and lose our undefeated season. I never want to see that score again." 

After the first game, Coach Williams message to his players was clear - attack the basketball. 

And attack they did as CMS quickly opened the game with a 17 - 6 lead and finished the first half 27 - 15. 

Unfortunately for CMS playing back to back games can take a toll on players physically and emotionally. The CMS slowly let 7th MDG back in to the game after Ryan Davila found himself sitting on the bench for most of the second half with foul trouble. 

"Playing a second game is hard on the players," Coach Williams said. "The players become tired and a little irritated, and it became exactly that - a - sloppy game." 

Asked if having one of their biggest players on the bench for the second half impacted their play, coach Williams agreed. 

"With Davila on the bench it took away some of our scoring, and it allowed Med Group to score in the middle," Coach Williams said. 

With foul trouble and tired players for CMS, the MDG clawed their way back into the game, closing it to within 4 points on two occasions. 

However, a championship wasn't in the cards for them as CMS found a spark in Marcus Godlock, who scored 12 points in the second half to seal a victory. In the final four minutes of the game, he scored on four breakaways on defensive miscues by MDG. 

"It's a tough choice between our players who the MVP is," Coach Williams said. "Godlock gave us the push we needed at the end, so he deserves it." 

Asked what it means to be back-to-back champions, Coach William said it was one of the best things to happen to the squadron and hopes for even better next season. 

"We only had three losses last season and one loss this year, so next year we hope to go undefeated," he said.