301st Intelligence Squadron repeats as Misawa basketball champions

  • Published
  • By Senior Airman Josh Generas
  • 301st Intelligence Squadron
MISAWA AIR BASE, Japan --  Clutch shooting and end-of-game fouls gave the 301st Intelligence Squadron a 13-point victory over rivals, the Navy Information Operation Command, taking the Misawa basketball championship, 59-48.

The first half could not have been closer at half time with the two teams less than a basket a part. Early in the second half, the 301st pulled away to a substantial lead and hoped to put it away early with the mercy rule. However, NIOC wasn't being quite as agreeable, pulling within five points late in the game. But, in the end it was the clutch shooting and end game fouls that gave the 301st the victory and bragging rights for another year.

After coming off a fantastic season last year, the expectations could not have been higher for the 301st Intelligence Squadron basketball team.

Days before the official rosters were turned in, Artie Sanders from the 301st IS, asked if the team would be interested in picking up players from the 373rd Support Squadron and Intelligence Group staff.

This was truly a blessing in disguise as these additional players became instrumental in the team claiming the base championship again this year.

With the loss of four starters and team leaders due to deployments and permanent change of stations, the new guys filled some big shoes. With the addition of Germichael Kelley, Tony Wilson, and Tim Cockrum along with returning starter Darren Douglas, the team had the youth and experience needed to set the pace and control each game.

The reserves for the team were just as deep offering shooting, ball control, defense, rebounding, and hustle. Michael Emadi, Ken Wolff, and. James Watson offered relief for the guards, while Thomas Clark, Eric Abraham, William Lassiter and Josh Generas covered back up roles for the post players.

The season started exactly as anticipated. The 301st IS smothered teams with their defense and excited fans with several fast break dunks. The team took on the persona of their squadron mascot, the Tigers, and tore apart opposing defenses and pounced all over their offense. The team started the season 7-0 with victories over every team in the division, winning several games by the-newly -instituted mercy rule of 20 plus points.

In the final game of the season and the back end of a double header, the 301st suffered its only loss of the season to the MDG by five points.

The first opponent in the playoffs was Naval Air Facility. Unfortunately, they didn't have the size or the depth to contend with the scorn the 301st IS felt after their loss against the MDG. For the second game of the playoffs, the team was hoping for a rematch against the MDG, but they were beaten by the CES, which thwarted their chance at revenge.

The final game pitted the 301st Intelligence Squadron against the Misawa Security Operations Center rivals, the Navy Information Operation Command. The MSOC pulled within five points late in the game but it wasn't enough to take the victory home.