TOP STORY>>Intramural Basketball: 314th AMXS squeaks out its season opener

By Airman 1st Class Cliffton Dolezal
19th Airlift Wing Public Affairs

The 314th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron left victorious, Tuesday night, winning the intramural basketball season opener with a score of 44-40 over the 19th Force Support Squadron Nov. 5, 2013, at Little Rock Air Force Base, Ark.

The 19th FSS started off strong forcing three turnovers within the first three minutes of the game. They then struck first after capitalizing on a turnover forced by Malik Royal, who dished it up the court to a wide-open Jelani Burrell for an easy layup.

The 19th FSS, once in control of the game with a 16-7 lead, was asked by their coach to slow it down and control the clock, during a 2nd quarter timeout taken by the 314th AMXS, however the 314th AMXS had other plans.

The 314th AMXS came out of the timeout with something to prove. After dominating the boards and out shooting the 19th FSS, 10 to 3, they started to crawl back into the game. The momentum took a huge shift to the 314th AMXS side when number 5 of the 314th AMXS, Quintin Williams, took a charge while Royal stampeded down the baseline, leading to a three pointer made by Randy Hubbard, a 314th AMXS player, however the FSS managed to hold onto the lead, taking a 18-14 point lead into the half.

After exchanging buckets in another close quarter of basketball, the 314th AMXS managed to close the gap going into the 4th quarter only down by two.

Freethrows were critical to the 314th AMXS if they were to have any chance of a victory. The 19th FSS took several penalties in the 4th quarter, both, putting the 314th AMXS in the bonus as well as giving the 314th AMXS an opportunity to take the lead on the line, with only 4:35 left on the game clock. Williams knocked down both of his freethrows giving the 314th their first lead of the game.

Once they took the lead the 314th didn’t look back. Frustration set in on the FSS side of the ball, who seemed to be trying to overcompensate for their lack of scoring in the second half, forcing bad passes and missing wide-open opportunities to score.

The 314th AMXS went on to win, 44-40, and has high hopes to finish well this season.