It takes overtime for 7th MUNS to overcome 7th MOS

  • Published
  • By Senior Airman Joel Mease
  • 7th Bomb Wing Public Affairs
DYESS AIR FORCE BASE, Texas --  The 7th Munitions Squadron expected a blowout, but instead found themselves in a fight Jan. 23 during a 53-52 overtime win over the 7th Maintenance Operation Squadron in an intramural over-30 men's basketball game.

The munitions squadron started the game off looking for its third consecutive victory and go over .500 for the first time in the season. Bradley Scruggs and Jason Abercrombie looked to set a dominating tone in the first half as the two teamed up to provide a dominating presence inside the paint and outside the arc.

While the first few minutes of play were pretty close, Abercrombie was able to get a steal and had a clear lane to the basket, giving the munitions squadron an 18-8 lead and capping an 8-0 run that lasted five minutes.

The munitions squadron's run was short lived, though, as 7th MOS' Ted Pierson helped keep his team in the game, closing the gap by five points to end the half with the score 33-28.

At halftime, Scruggs, the 7th MUNS captain, said he fully expected his team to make a few runs on the 7th MOS team and finish with a commanding lead.
Scruggs and company though were not expecting the 7th MOS, led by Pierson, to give them a run for their money in the second half as other 7th MOS players stepped up to try to steal a win.

The 7th MOS was able to get their first lead of the ball game halfway through the second half when Pierson hit a key jumper to take a 42-40 lead. However, their lead would be short-lived as Scruggs responded with a three pointer and Abercrombie stole a pass and got a breakaway bucket to retake the lead, 45-42. The 7th MOS would battle back to tie it up at 46 each with only 11 seconds left in regulation.

Toward the end of regulation both teams missed key free throws that would have ended the game.

During overtime, 7th MOS took a 52-48 lead, but 7th MUNS fouled their way to stop the clock and get the rebounds on the missed free throws to edge closer and regain their lead.

With only seven seconds remaining in overtime and leading 52-51, 7th MOS made a critical error by fouling Scruggs, sending him to the charity line. Scruggs hit both free throws and allowed the munitions squadron to retake the lead 53-52.

In a desperation attempt by 7th MOS to quickly get down the floor and score, Scruggs intercepted a pass and dribbled out the remainder of the clock.

"7th MOS really showed us a lot of heart today," Scruggs said. "We were expecting it to be an easy victory because we won by about 25 last time we played them, but they showed us they weren't going down without a fight."

The munitions squadron improved its record to 3-2.