The undefeated Marine Corps System Command intramural basketball team put their undefeated streak on the line against the Naval Health Clinic team at the Barber Physical Activity Center on April 4, 2013.

While MCSC was looking to make quick work of their opponents, NHC, was not willing to give MCSC an easy match and wanted to be the first to put them in their place.

In the first half MCSC came out with authority, combining steals with fast breaks, and quickly went on a 12-0 run.

NHC didn’t seem as prepared for the match-up as their opponents. With only five players present for NHC, it was easy to see toward the end of the half, that the NHC players were starting to feel fatigued. Their ability to hold on to the ball and provide adequate defense was fleeting. Meanwhile, MCSC was making back-to-back three-pointers.

By the end of the half, MCSC was in the lead 35-17.

“We did pretty good out there,” said Jaylen, player for MCSC and also a player for the Quantico Middle/High School Varsity Basketball Team, during half-time. “We made great shots and were able to get in the inside a lot. Hopefully we can keep things going like this and take the win.”

To start the second half, NHC begun to actually gel as a team and were able to get in the paint and score more. But MCSC elevated their game as well. While NHC developed a decent defensive push, MCSC countered by making 3-pointers and acrobatic layups.

Toward the end of the game, both teams did away with layups and short jumpers. Instead, they were attempting multiple three-pointers. In the end, NHC was not able to come back from the first half deficit and MCSC beat them, 50-74.

“The brackets won’t really toughen up until the playoffs,” said Jelani Nix, head coach, MCSC. “We looked really good overall. We have been trying to figure out what roles each player was going to have during the season. This way we can bring it all together in the playoffs without hesitation or holding back.”