EMS shoots past SFS, wins basketball game

  • Published
  • By Senior Airman David Owsianka
  • 56th Fighter Wing Public Affairs
LUKE AIR FORCE BASE, Ariz. --  From the time the ball was tossed up to start the game March 18, the 56th Equipment Maintenance Squadron team controlled the intramural basketball game against the 56th Security Forces Squadron Snakes at the Bryant Fitness Center. EMS won the game 60-50 to improve to a 4-1 record.

EMS started the game on an 8 to 3 run until Michael Dicicco, 56th SFS, nailed his second 3-point shot to make it a one-possession game.

The Snakes took their first and only lead of the game when Dicicco sank his fourth 3-point shot of the first half to give his team a 16-15 lead.

EMS failed to capitalize on missed shots and turnovers by the SFS team to extend their lead past five points until there were only five minutes left in the first half.

EMS slowly continued to build their lead, going into halftime with a score of 36-24.

"Playing a zone defense in the first half allowed for their shooters to get a lot of open shots," Dicicco said. "We decided to switch to a man-to-man defense to better defend the outside shot."

SFS started the second half on a hot streak, going on a 7-2 run to cut the lead to single digits.

Trying to bring the Snakes back into the game with his streaky shooting, Dicicco nailed back-to-back 3-pointers to cut EMS's lead to 4 points. EMS led 43-39 with 9:42 left in the game.

EMS kept a two-possession lead until the team went into stall mode to burn time off the clock with 2:10 left in the game. SFS started to foul EMS, sending them to the foul line to get more offensive possessions.

With the Snakes being unable to close the gap, EMS claimed their fourth win of the season moving them into a tie for first place in the East division.

"Being able to hit our outside shots definitely helped us win the game tonight," said Daniel Dela Garza, 56th EMS. "Hopefully we will be able to keep this momentum for the rest of the season to put our team in a better position for the playoffs."