435MDS, LRMC win intramural leagues

Emily Reagan
Kaiserslautern American


***image1***Two teams from the 435th Medical Group were crowned Ramstein intramural basketball champions, and LRMC won in its counterpart Army league recently.

In Ramstein’s regular league, undefeated 435MDS had a solid victory against U.OWS, 51-30, Tuesday.

“Team defense was the key,” said 435MDS player Tommie Lenoir. “That and steals and fast-break defense.”

After a slow start of sloppy shots, turnovers and fouls, both teams began performing offensively. By halftime, 435MDS had a small 5-point lead.

In the second half, 435MDS used its height to grab rebounds and second-chance points. Even with fresh legs and seven on the bench, the U.OWS could not catch up on the scoreboard and turn turnovers into points. Big man Tony Smith, essential to the U.OWS offense, fouled out with eight minutes left.

U.OWS never caught up, and 435MDS clenched its 18th victory.
Three players from 435MDS scored double figures. Troy Myles had 17 points, Lenoir had 13 and Byron Owens had 10. U.OWS high scorers were Smith with 11 and Gene English with 8.

Earlier in the playoffs, U.OWS lost by 1 point to 723AMS in the third round and was knocked to the loser’s bracket; a rematch pitted the two rivals in the semifinals. This time U.OWS won by one point, earning a spot in the championship game

“When it came down to the toughest game, we smoked them,” said U.OWS coach Steve Fisher. “We played hard tonight, but they played harder.”

Although Tuesday’s game did not result in his favor, Fisher said he was more than happy with this season’s results.

With the United States Air Forces in Europe Operational Weather Squadron’s rotating shift work and commuting from Sembach to the games, he didn’t expect to be able to field a team for the four-month season.

In the Over 30 League championships, 435MDS once again knocked out U.OWS for a sweeping 65-22 victory Feb. 17.

In the 415th Base Support Battalion’s intramural playoffs, LRMC cruised through the tournament undefeated to take the title of champion after beating 21st TSC, the winner of the losers bracket, 53-42 Feb. 17.

During the first five minutes of the championship, both teams had trouble making baskets, but by halftime LRMC pulled away 40-28.

The second half began with a LRMC 15-point lead. Vincent Williams sparked the 21st TSC by hitting back-to-back 3 pointers to pull within 7. LRMC’s Frank Head answered with two back-to-back 3 pointers, sealing the lead and victory for LRMC.

Top scorers were Head with 24 and Williams with 37 points.
LRMC will now take on 435MDS in the Air Force vs. Army Intramural Braggin’ Rights game that is tentatively scheduled for 6:30 p.m. March 24 at the Vogelweh Fitness Center.