7th CES/FD nearly let win slip away against 7th EMS

  • Published
  • By Senior Airman Joel Mease
  • 7th Bomb Wing Public Affairs
DYESS AIR FORCE BASE, Texas --  The 7th Civil Engineer Squadron/Fire Department defeated the 7th Equipment Maintenance Squadron 39-32 Tuesday afternoon in an intramural over-30 men's basketball game.

The game started with a 13-3 run for the 7th CES while holding 7th EMS to only 3 points in the first six minutes of action.

7th EMS's William Gilliam helped get his team back on track hitting back-to-back bank shots. However, between Allen Oldfather, James Badua and William Watkins, the 7th EMS was able to expand the first half lead to 28-12, scoring 19 points between them.

At the end of the half, the 7th CES/FD team captain George Nichols said he was very pleased with his team's efforts on defense and scoring off turnovers.

"Defense is really key to winning. It opens up the offensive side of the game. We just have to keep doing what we're doing," Nichols said.

The 7th CES began the second half in a similar manner as the first by getting key blocks and steals.

Despite beginning the second half down 35-13 to the 7th CES, the maintenance squadron would not back down. 7th EMS would start a 14-0 run that lasted more than nine minutes.

Frustrating the 7th CES offense, the maintenance squadron's defense bullied their players in spite of the large deficit for much of the second half.

Eric Johnson and Bradford Simpson were key players in the maintainer's offensive explosion in the second half, combining for 22 points.

The lead was just too much for 7th EMS to overcome though as Watkins ended the maintainer's run with his own bucket. There was just over a minute left in the game to give the 7th CES some breathing room in the final seconds.

When asked what his team needs to do to competitively play in the league, Nichols responded that his team needs to work more on being a team.

"We had a great start to the game," Nichols said. "We just need to work more on playing as a team throughout the season. I think overall we played pretty good, considering it was the first game we played this season." The first scheduled game was forfeited to 7th CES.

"(EMS) was a great team to start the season off with as they have some pretty good-sized players, and it was good to see our players respond so well."

Because the 7th CES had built a large lead on solid rebounding and forced turnovers, Nichols was asked why his team allowed the maintainers to make the game competitive in the final minutes.

"Over-30 basketball, that's what happened," said Nichols with a smile.

The 7th CES is now 2-0 for the season.