News

Basketball: Fatigue, frustration lead to Warrior 3rd place finish

  • Published
  • By Master Sgt. Jake Chappelle
  • 446th Airlift Wing Public Affairs
JOINT BASE LEWIS-MCCHORD, Wash. --  After beginning the season 13-0, the 446th Airlift Wing's Weekend Warriors' hopes of making an appearance in the 30-and-over basketball league championship game were crushed by the 62nd Logistics Readiness Squadron, 48-70, at the JBLM Fitness Center March 10.

The Warrior's lost two straight playoff games to end the season with an overall third-place finish in the league.

"We're frustrated, however, perspective comes with age," said Warrior forward Lane Seaholm. "They had a younger team, but we got great exercise out there and had fun 'running and gunning' with a great group of Reservists."

According to Seaholm, the main factors in the loss were missed shots, fatigue, and foul trouble.

"We couldn't buy a basket today," he said. "We weren't warmed up. Then fatigue hit us and threw off our targeting some more. As we got frustrated, we had to desperately fight back from our scoring deficit by rushing our shots."

Although Warrior guard Stephen Rude started the game off with two three-point baskets, putting the Warriors ahead by six points, it would be the only lead they'd have the entire game.

With 10:30 left in the first half, LRS scored 15-unanswered points, making the score 13-28, and causing the Warriors to take their first time out.

But LRS kept their stride and scored two straight baskets before the Warriors could answer, finally ending the 19-point run.

Lack of chemistry was another reason the Warriors couldn't seem to stay in the game, according to Warrior guard Lawrence Broussard.

"Our normal chemistry wasn't there," he said. "We didn't have our full team. We had people on missions or at mandatory appointments. Because of the odd combination, we couldn't get in sync."

However, Warriors still fought to put numbers on the scoreboard.

With three seconds left on the clock, Warrior forward Derek Bryant inbounded the ball from the LRS baseline to Robert Jimenez, who caught the ball and threw an alley oop to forward Brian Eyre who laid it in as time expired.

That basket allowed the Warriors to end the half 23-39.

"LRS moved better away from the ball than we did," said Seaholm. "They out rebounded us and hit a much higher percentage of their shots."

The Warriors cranked up their defense in the second half. However, aggression and fatigue led them to foul trouble, with the Warriors picking up 10-team fouls to LRS's four.

"LRS kept outrunning us," said Seaholm. "We had to tighten our defense, but it increased the risk of fouls."

LRS never looked back as the frustrated Warriors saw their championship hopes slip away. They nearly doubled the Warrior's total points, making the score 35-60 with less than seven minutes to play.

"We just didn't have it today," said Jimenez. "LRS had their game on point from the opening tip off."

Despite a "less than desirable" ending score, the Warriors managed to get the final shot of the game. A three-point field goal from forward Martin Oliver made the final score 48-70.

Even with the third-place finish, the Warriors remain confident.

"I'll put our best five against any other team's best five any day, said Rude. "I'm sticking to my word."

Seaholm sends a reminder of what the game is ultimately about.

"During the game you concentrate on winning," said Seaholm. "After the game you can look back and enjoy the time you spent with great people."