MARINE CORPS BASE QUANTICO, Va. (March 18) -- Marine Corps Security Embassy Group intramural basketball team secured a victory against Combat Instructor Weapons, 66-44, during an American League basketball game March 16 at the Barber Physical Activity Center.
As the two teams warmed up, the energy between them was undeniable. Shots sank into the net from long, fade-away three-pointers at both ends alongside tight hook shots.
MCESG, although sitting at fifth place in the league standings with a 6-5 record, managed to win six games in a row and was looking to snatch their seventh win from CI WPNS, who confidently sat in second place in the standings with an 8-3 record, and had no intention of allowing their opponent to continue their streak.
The game started with Thaddeus Tate, a player for MCESG, leaping above CI WPNS’ Byran Shuler and gaining possession from the toss-up. MCESG quickly pushed down the court, passing the ball in short bursts to get into position to score.
Loren Thomas, a player for MCESG, got the ball and went for a layup, but was fouled and made one of two shots. Shortly after play resumed, Thomas was fouled again, but didn’t sink another shot. Three minutes into the game the scoreboard showed MCESG in the lead, 1-0.
Players on both teams pushed their conditioning as they rushed back and forth on the court trying to snag a tipped ball and grab rebounds under the hoop. Neither was willing to let up the pressure.
Scores steadily climbed into double digits and MCESG kept their lead, slowly gaining momentum. At the end of the first half MCESG held the lead, 31-18.
“Keep passing the ball,” said Thomas during halftime. “We’ve got them doing circles looking for the ball.”
MCESG started the second half with the ball and moved quickly toward the hoop, but CI WPNS’ defense held tight and denied any points.
Possession went back and forth between the two teams, but MCESG managed to put up six unanswered points before CI WPNS scored their first points of the half with a sweeping layup from Steven Haddicks, bringing the score to 38-20.
Following Haddicks’ points, CI WPNS began to build momentum and put up five unanswered points of their own bridging the gap between the teams.
With 10 minutes on the clock, MCESG remained ahead of CI WPNS, 41-31, and pushed their lead all the way through to the end of the game by keeping the pressure constant and holding steady with defense.
At the final buzzer, following a short-fused, three-pointer from Ajawon Gadison, a player for MCESG, the scoreboard showed MCESG victorious, 66-44.
“Our win tonight is thanks to hard work and communication,” said Gadison. “Talking on the offense, sticking on the defense and playing together as a team got us an easy win.”
The two teams lined up and shook hands in recognition of a good game.
“Tonight’s loss was on our defense,” said Michael Martinet, a player for CI WPNS. “We were a little sluggish on the defense, but we can work on that.”
Correspondent: Paris.capers@usmc.mil