Ellsworth intramural basketball championship

Preston Winn #11, 28th Logistics Readiness Squadron small forward, defends Derek Walton #8, 28th Security Forces Squadron point guard, in the Ellsworth intramural championship game March 6. Security forces won the base championship in overtime with a final score of 79-71. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman Corey Hook)

28th SFS wins intramural b-ball championship <bk> eliminating 28th LRS 79-71 in overtime

Published March 11, 2008
By Staff Sgt. Eric Bolt
28th Bomb Wing Public Affairs

ELLSWORTH AIR FORCE BASE, S.D. -- The 28th Security Forces Squadron, led by point guard Derek Walton, ended the surge from 28th Logistics Readiness Squadron with a 79-71 overtime win, securing the Ellsworth intramural basketball championship at the Bellamy Fitness Center March 6.

The 28 LRS forced a game two for the base championship by defeating 28 SFS 60-51 in their first meeting during the double-elimination tournament.

The championship game started with both squads exchanging baskets, setting the precedence for a high-speed, energetic contest.

Security forces first-half scoring was led by Leonard Suarez, 28 SFS center, who finished the half with 14 points. Tygi Jones, 28 LRS shooting guard, also finished the first half with 14 points.

By the end of the first half, 28 LRS inched their way to a slim five-point lead.

With 10 minutes left in the second half, Walton stepped to the line and sank two free throws, pushing 28 SFS into the lead for the first time.

Both teams battled for the lead during the second half until a rash of 28 LRS defensive fouls allowed 28 SFS to accumulate a total of 11 points from the free-throw.

The 28 LRS managed to tie the game in the final minute of the second half with a three-pointer by Jones forcing the game into overtime.

From the start of the overtime period 28 SFS controlled the game, sinking baskets from both the floor and foul line. By the half-way point of the five-minute overtime period, 28 SFS eight-point lead turned out to be a deficit that 28 LRS would not be able to overcome.

Suarez finished the game with a team-high 26 points and Jones scored 21 points for 28 LRS.

"We managed to win the game by not giving up and playing at our best until the last buzzer," said Alexander Williams, 28 SFS small forward.

Editor's note: A double-elimination tournament requires that a team must be defeated twice before being eliminated from the tournament. Since 28 LRS defeated the unbeaten 28 SFS team in their first meeting a second game was required to decide the Ellsworth intramural championship.