Luke, DM champions face-off

After a long fought battle Davis-Monthan Air Force Base defeated Luke AFB 34-31 in an intramural basketball game Friday at the Luke AFB gym that decided which base had the better team.

The 308th Aircraft Maintenance Unit and Davis-Monthan’s 355th Equipment Maintenance Squadron represented their bases as the intramural basketball champions.

EMS entered the game determined and wanted to prove they are the better team.

“We are currently undefeated this season, and have won two championships in a row at our base,” said Master Sgt. Luis Colon, 355th EMS section chief, prior to the game. “A victory here would mean that we’re heading in the right path as a team.”

The 308th AMU set the tone for the entire first half by opening the game with a three-pointer and held 355th EMS scoreless for the first 4:35 of the game.

“Scoring the first bucket gave us the confidence we needed for the rest of the game,” said Airman 1st Class Destin Marshall, 308th AMU F-16 avionics assistant apprentice.

As the first half went on, both teams would struggle from the field due both teams focusing heavily on defense. The 308th AMU led at the end of the first half 20-17.

“Playing together this season gave us the chemistry needed to play well together on the defensive end,” Marshall said.

After the second half began, 355th EMS tightened the game even more by making it a 1-point game several times.

“I kept telling my team we need to keep pushing and stay in the game,” Colon said. “We hoped it would turn around sooner or later.”

With 10 minutes to go, 308th AMU got into foul trouble and 355th EMS took advantage.

“The lead began slipping away when we started making careless passes and didn’t stick to our game plan,” said Senior Airman Joshua Groom, 308th AMU weapons specialist. “When facing a team that is as aggressive as EMS, you can’t make as many mistakes as we did.”

The game saw its first tie with 5:08 left in the game when 355th EMS made a lay-up to make it 28-28.

After 308th AMU called a time out, they took the lead back by making the first of two free-throws putting them up by one.

The 355th EMS answered back by hitting a 3-pointer to put them up 31-29.

“Once we took the lead with 3:22 left in the game I knew we were going to win,” Colon said. “My team always plays smart ball near the end of the game.”

With one minute to go Senior Airman Albert Banks scored Luke’s final bucket to bring the game within 1.

The 355th EMS was able to hold off 308th AMU and be the victors of the game of champions.

“We definitely want a rematch,” Groom said. “We can’t have anybody come into our house and beat us like they did tonight.”