365th TRS dominates 82nd MDOS, 52-37

  • Published
  • By Staff Sgt. Tonnette Thompson
  • 82nd Training Wing Public Affairs
SHEPPARD AIR FORCE BASE, Texas --  The 365th Training Squadron Eagles stayed one step ahead of the 82nd Medical Operations Squadron all through Wednesday night's basketball game, ending the evening with a 52-37 win.

Seconds into the game, 365th TRS coach Shawn Cleophas made his first of many layups that evening. Along with Arthur Calloway and Brett Wilburn, he earned the team six more points before the 82nd MDOS got on the board.

It was Greg Hicks of 82nd MDOS who gave his team their first points, four minutes into the game. Two free throw from 82nd MDOS brought the score to 8-4. 365th TRS responded with an eight-point streak, but their defense lapsed when 82nd MDOS player Brian Stavely found himself alone under the basket, going for an easy layup that broke the 365th TRS's run at 16-6. Stavely followed his layup with a three-point shot, while teammate Kunta Dubose sunk a layup of his own.

Calloway came in with two more points, inching his team's lead to 18-11. But more all-net free throw shots and a three-pointer from Hicks brought 82nd MDOS into striking distance with 18-16. It was Dubose, with four minutes left in the first half, who tied the score at 18 points. Unfortunately for 82nd MDOS, it was a short-lived victory, as the 365th TRS Jeffrey Kelly immediately answered with a layup. 82nd MDOS never got that close to taking the lead again that evening.

Though Stavely offered another two points, Kelly and Wilburn came back with four of their own. The last minute of the first half found both teams going for tightly contested baskets, but no one else scored before the first half buzzer, and the teams went into halftime with a 24-21 score in favor of 365th TRS.

The second half opened with a free throw shot for 365th TRS player James Ellis and another two points from Cleophas before a malfunction with the scoreboard temporarily suspended the game.

Once the scoreboard was restored, Stavely gave his team another free throw point, which earned a seven-point response from Cleophas, Wilburn and Ellis. Hicks's layup was answered with one from 365th TRS's Clarence Wesley. From there, 82nd MDOS managed their first and only scoring streak: Dubose and late addition David Charles combined for five points, while the 365th TRS defense lapsed again, this time for Hicks, who stood alone near the basket for a jumpshot.

With the score at 36-31 for the 365th TRS, Calloway earned another two points, while Stavely made another free throw point for his. The 365th TRS's next scoring streak began with Calloway tumbling across the floor for a rebound, which he passed to Cleophas for another two points. Two more baskets from Cleophas, along with a layup from Kelly, brought the score to 46-32 with four minutes left in the game.

Hicks managed a three-point shot and another jumpshot, closing out his team's score at 37 points. Wesley, Cleophas and Wilburn each gave their team two points, scoring into the final minute of the game. From there, the 365th TRS played catch, passing the ball back and forth as the seconds wore down until the buzzer sounded.

"It was team communication that helped us win," said Cleophas, also his team's high scorer with 17 points. "We came out here and did our best, and we hope we can continue this for the rest of the season."