LRS gets playoff spot in 55-35 win over OSS

  • Published
  • By Senior Airman Devante Williams
  • 56th Fighter Wing Public Affairs
LUKE AIR FORCE BASE, Ariz. --  The 56th Logistics Readiness Squadron battled the 56th Operations Support Squadron during an intramural basketball game July 29 at the Luke Air Force Base Bryant Fitness Center. LRS won the game 55-35, which guarantees LRS a playoff slot.

The tip-off launched a high-speed game that was played with intensity on both ends of the court. LRS began the game with a 7-0 run, but that did not discourage OSS from giving it all they had. Each team pushed the ball up the court as much as possible, but OSS struggled to get rebounds, which gave LRS the lead at the end of the first half with a score of 28-22.

The LRS team was on a mission to finish this game.

"We need to keep swinging the ball," said Hanniel Julien, 56th LRS teammate. "Once we do that, the game is ours to win."

As the second half began, LRS got on a roll and worked as a team to score six points, bringing the score to 35-24 with 15 minutes left in the game. OSS tried to narrow the deficit to single digits but LRS continued making easy buckets to keep the double-digit lead. OSS had extreme shot selection trouble with more than 15 missed shots in the second half, which LRS took advantage of to increase their lead.

Led by Julien, who scored 20 points, LRS was able to sustain their lead and win the game via the mercy rule.

"Defense wins games," said Harold Cade, 56th LRS teammate. "That was our main focus for the whole game. When we saw that the other team had only five players and no substitutes, we used our energy to run fast breaks, and they couldn't keep up with us. If we continue to play like we did today, I know we will be fine in the playoffs."