LUKE AIR FORCE BASE, Ariz. --
The 56th Medical Group battled the 56th Civil Engineer Squadron Aug. 11 during the intramural basketball championship game at the Luke Air Force Base Bryant Fitness Center. The score 53-36 gave MDG a decisive win, declaring them undefeated tournament champions.
High speed and intensity were on both ends of the court with both teams scoring back and forth early in the game, but MDG went on a 4-0 run to bring the score to 13-9 with nine minutes left in the first half. CES slowly lost their momentum as MDG continued to rack up the points and build the lead. With a ferocious dunk from Kyle Smith, 56th MDG teammate, the lead climbed another 16 points at the end of the first half a score of 29-14.
MDG was determined to win the championship.
"Our main focus was to play as a team," said Tarue Nroady, 56th Medical Operations Squadron pediatric clinic NCO in charge. "We have a bunch of athletes on the team that can play well individually, but as a team we're unstoppable."
As the second half ramped up, MDG got on a roll and dominated most of the second half leading by 16 with a score of 40-24 with ten minutes to go. CES' lack of defense, plus no replacement players, made them lose any hope of a win with five minutes to go in the second half. CES fought with everything they had, but they could not make a comeback.
"Our focus is always on defense," said Dylan Vogel, 56th MDOS medical technician journeyman. "We came together as a team during the playoffs and really learned our strengths and weaknesses. That's how we were able to win the game."