512th FSS edges 436th MDG

  • Published
  • By Tech. Sgt. Chuck Walker
  • 436th Airlift Wing Public Affairs
DOVER AIR FORCE BASE, Del. --  An old saying goes, "it's not about how you start, but how you finish."

The 512th Force Support Squadron proved that saying to be accurate in its intramural basketball game against the 436th Medical Group Feb. 8 at Dover Air Force Base, Del.

Kreighton Lambert, of the 512th FSS, scored on a layup with 30 seconds left to seal his team's 41-39 come-from-behind victory against the 436th MDG. Lambert's basket gave the 512th FSS its first lead of the game and revenge against the team that knocked them out of the playoffs last season.

"When we are focused and playing as a team, there is no lead that's too big for us to overcome," 512th FSS coach Ray Jones said. "Revenge definitely played a factor. With this win we've beaten them twice this year. That is a big accomplishment for us."

Early on it looked as though the 436th MDG would cruise to an easy victory; they jumped out to a 9-0 lead to start the game and ended the first half with an eight-point lead at 25-17.

In the second half the 436th MDG's play became more conservative as they tried to run out the clock. The 512th FSS played more efficient on offense allowing them to come back.

Jermaine Smith, who scored a game-high 15 points, hit a driving basket with 57 seconds left to tie the game at 39-39 setting up Lambert's end-of-game heroics. In total, Lambert added 11 points for the 512th FSS.

Jones said Smith has been a welcome addition to his team and proved what he is capable of doing in his effort against the 436th MDG.

"Smith is a rookie, he joined our team three games ago," Jones said. "I put a lot of faith in him and he definitely impressed me with what he was able to do. He played well."

Cassandra Saphore, 436th MDG coach, said her team fell into the old trap of trying to protect its lead instead of being aggressive in the second half.

"We were trying to hold our lead and run out the clock and it didn't work to our advantage," Saphore said of her team's second half strategy. "We seemed like we were out of sync. We had a lot of missed opportunities."

Saphore said the 436th MDG will spend more time in the gym to try to get back on track and ready for the playoffs.

"We will be practicing our defense, screens and fundamentals," Saphore said. "I will be driving that home. We need to make better decisions. This was definitely an off game for us."

Jones said that as long as his team stayed together he feels confident about what they can do the rest of the season.