News

Basketball: Warriors keep win streak alive

  • Published
  • By Master Sgt. Jake Chappelle
  • 446th Airlift Wing Public Affairs
JOINT BASE LEWIS-MCCHORD, Wash. --  Fast-break offense, aggressive defense, seamless team play, and a 31-point contribution from Warrior forward Brian Eyre were key factors in a blowout, over the 62nd Operations Support Squadron Horsemen, 72-40 in a 30-and-over intramural basketball game at the JBLM Fitness Center Feb. 24.

The 446th Airlift Wing Weekend Warriors here proved they we're everything but "part time", by improving their record to 10-0 and sealing a first-place slot in the league.

"Our team knows the game," said Eyre. "All of us have played organized basketball at some point in our lives. We're also Reservists, so we've been playing together for a couple years and everyone knows their role."

The Warriors started the first half with a 7-0 lead before the Horsemen scored their first basket. Eyre scored six-straight points later in the first half before the Horsemen were able to sink his first basket, making the score 15-5.

Late in the first half, Warrior guard James Deal stole the ball and passed it to Keith Collard, who launched a half-court pass to an open Derek Bryant, who scored a layup, increasing the lead to 14 points.

The Warriors never seemed to look back as they finished the half 35-18.

"We run everybody into the ground," said Eyre. "We have speed and give a 110 percent effort."

Guard Stephan Rude picked up where his teammates left off by making a layup to start off the second half, increasing the lead to 21 points.

The Warriors maintained a 20-point-lead, for most of the second half before increasing it to 30 with more than seven minutes left in the game.

"This is the biggest (point) spread we've had this season," said Warriors team representative Anita Barnes. "We're feeling a lot more confident with this game after only beating 62nd Maintenance (Squadron), 44-40 last week."

Despite the scoreboard display, the Horsemen never gave up as they played aggressively in the final minutes of the game.

According to Horsemen forward Richard Vance, it's not just about competition.

"If it were the NBA (National Basketball Association), I'd be a little more worried about points and scores," said Vance. "This is about friendly competition and we're just here to have fun and play basketball. At the end of the day, we're all on the same team, and that's Team McChord."

The Warriors credit their 10-0 record to teamwork and aggressive hustle, according to Eyre and guard, Heidi Hancock.

"We've been playing together for many years," said Eyre. "At any point during the game, our best five guys are on the court."

Because the team plays together so well, it's easy to out hustle the other teams and play defense, said Hancock. That's how games are won and it is a reflection of the camaraderie of Reservists in the wing.

Eyre led in overall scoring while Bryant dropped 14 points at the power forward position. Rude scored 11 points for the Warriors, while Collard added 10 at small forward.

The Warriors next game is scheduled for Friday, Feb. 26 at the JBLM Fitness Center. This will be the last regular-season game before the playoffs begin March 1 when they will play the lowest-ranked seed in the league.