WADS shuts down APS 2 42-28

  • Published
  • By Tyler Hemstreet
  • 62nd Airlift Wing Public Affairs
MCCHORD AIR FORCE BASE, Wash. --  The Western Air Defense Sector's intramural basketball team cruised to a 42-28 victory Monday night at the fitness center shutting down 62nd Aerial Port Squadron 2.

A considerable size advantage on the low post and a strong desire to rebound gave WADS an early momentum boost, said APS 2 guard Reginald Harden.

Nursing a 9-5 lead midway through the first half, WADS put together an 11-7 run to close out the half. WADS forward Richard Robbins played a key role in the run, scoring seven straight points on two layups and a 3-pointer.

During the run, WADS also displayed its rebounding dominance as David Reyes and Keith McDowell gave the offense numerous second opportunities with offensive rebounds.

WADS led 20-12 at the half.

After a sluggish start to the second half for both teams, APS 2 finally put something together as Harden drilled a 3-pointer to cut the WADS lead to 28-21 with 10 minutes left in the game.

APS 2 continued to work hard to cut the deficit as Dantejio Taft grabbed an offensive rebound and scored on a putback, keeping the deficit close at 32-25 with just over two minutes left.

But WADS was just too tough inside, and APS 2 could do nothing but foul. WADS converted its free throws down the stretch to close out the victory.

"We have a set offense that we like to run and it boils down to feeding it to our big men," said Robbins, who scored a game-high of 12 points. "If we can get them shooting free throws, we'll probably win the game because the other team will get in foul trouble, and we'll end up scoring points from the line."

The big men came through, as McDowell and Reyes combined to score 15 points.

Harden summed up APS 2's problems with just one word.

"Rebounding," he said. "They just wanted it more."

Despite an offensive lull early in the second half, Robbins said his team is starting to find its groove.

"This is the first game the chemistry started really coming together," Robbins said. "It took the first two games, but now it really started to show up and you saw what happened."

Harden said his team learned a couple of lessons from the 14-point loss to WADS.

"Once we stop cutting to the basket and moving around, we stop scoring," he said. "We also have to start communicating better and box out [on the defensive glass]."

WADS improved to 2-1 on the season while APS 2 fell to 1-2.