Conquering COMM repeats as Over 30 Basketball Champions
By Senior Airman Eric Donner, 48 FW Public Affairs
/ Published February 21, 2007
ROYAL AIR FORCE LAKENHEATH, England -- To win the over 30 basketball season the 48th Communications Squadron had a long night ahead of them.
The first game of the evening pitted COMM against the 48th Munitions Squadron. The winner would face 48th Equipment Maintenance Squadron in the championship.
"Going into the evening we knew it was going to be a dog fight for us to repeat as the over 30s champions," said Kamau Hall, COMMs coach.
COMM easily defeated MUNS 53-37 to advance into the championship game.
EMS open the game with the first point, the only time they would lead in the first half. COMM, still pumped up from their defeat of MUNS, dominated the first half, with Byran Shipman lighting it up with all the first half three pointers and Darrin Chester dominating the post. The lead was firmly with COMM at halftime, 34-19.
"I wanted to get a 20 point lead by half to give my starters a rest," said Coach Hall. "But, EMS smelled blood and they went after us."
EMS started the second half with 11 unanswered points, shocking COMM. Making it only a 4 point spread with the advantage going to COMM.
Once over the initial shock, COMM went back to the game they played on both sides of the court. COMM scored 11 points to EMS's 19 in the second half and was enough to take the win and force game 2.
The second game would prove to be a challenge for the tired COMM team. EMS, again with a fresher team, jumped out with 6 unanswered points. COMM fought back and at half led EMS 21-24.
"We had to slow down the game and transition," said Coach Hall.
Again, with the drive to repeat as the over 30 basketball champions, COMM dug deep. With a dominating second half, COMM outscored EMS 20 - 10.
The final game went to COMM 44-31 with the help of the game's leading scorers, Reginald Stucky, 20 points, and Henry Malon, 12 points.
"Over all it was a great season. With a lot of help from my assistant coaches and the players, we took the championship two years running," said Coach Hall