EGLIN AIR FORCE BASE, Fla. -- The 96th Security Forces Squadron outlasted the 16th Electronic Warfare Squadron in a 45-38 overtime win in intramural basketball here Feb. 8.
The 1-4 Cops took the court looking for their second win of the season. EWS was desperate to dig out of an 0-4 hole.
Despite good court hustle, both teams were flat in early shooting, missing wide open shots and not converting on turnovers. Shaky passing and ball handling on both ends also contributed to a low-scoring first half.
Timothy Pledger’s mid-range jumper, gave EWS their first two points. Then the Cops nosed ahead, 3-2, with Devonte Hill’s three-pointer.
EWS gained a 9-5 lead at the midway point of the half before Keith Miller’s three, Daniel Butts’ lay-up and DeMarcus Miles’ free throw put the Cops in front, 11-9 at the 7:36 mark.
After four scoreless minutes, Butts’ two-point runner sparked an unanswered eight-point SFS surge to finish the half, The Cope were on top, 19-9.
Xavier Dorsey, SFS’ coach, was pleased with the late scoring drive.
“We cleaned up our mistakes and capitalized on their ball handling errors,” he said. “We’re going to keep up our intensity in the second half.”
Jerome Young, the EWS coach, encouraged his team to hit their shots and defend better.
“We had too many turnovers and missed some wide open three-pointers,” he said. “We need to box out more and clamp down on their outside shooters.”
SFS kept the lead through most of the second half, until their intensity waned in the last five minutes. EWS took advantage and ramped up their defense for a comeback. Buckets from Timothy Pledger, Gregory Brown and Matthew Byrd inspired the late charge.
Pledger’s successful free throws at 1:36 gave EWS the lead, 29-28. Shon Owens also sunk free throws with 44 seconds left, lifting EWS to 31-28.
On the Cops’ next possession, Kodey Shenk knocked down a clutch three-pointer to tie the game at 31-all and force a three-minute overtime.
Miller broke the regulation tie for the Cops with a defensive steal and lay-up, for a 33-31 lead. SFS then caught fire, outscoring EWS 12 to seven in the final two minutes to seal the victory, 45-38.
“We got it together at the end,” Dorsey said. “We had to do it in overtime, but we’re glad for the win.”