81st Logistics Readiness Squadron wins crown

Sam Miller, intramural sports director, and Tech. Sgt. Gerald Peterson, 336th Training Squadron, keep stats in the score book and control the score board during the intramural championship basketball game between the 81st Logistics Readiness Squadron and the 333rd Training Squadron Feb. 16, 2012, at the Blake Fitness Center, Keesler Air Force Base, Miss. The 81st LRS defeated the 333rd TRS 46-41. (U.S. Air Force photo by Kemberly Groue)

81st Logistics Readiness Squadron wins crown

Kyle Rimando, 333rd Training Squadron, and Amos Daniels, 81st Logistics Readiness Squadron, reach for the basketball at half court during the intramural championship basketball game Feb. 16, 2012, at the Blake Fitness Center, Keesler Air Force Base, Miss. The 81st LRS defeated the 333rd TRS 46-41. (U.S. Air Force photo by Kemberly Groue)

81st Logistics Readiness Squadron wins crown

Matthew Smith and Leviticus Robinson, 81st Logistics Readiness Squadron, double team V.J. Peoples, 333rd Training Squadron, as he makes his way towards the basket during the intramural championship basketball game Feb. 16, 2012, at the Blake Fitness Center, Keesler Air Force Base, Miss. The 81st LRS defeated the 333rd TRS 46-41. (U.S. Air Force photo by Kemberly Groue)

81st Logistics Readiness Squadron wins crown

Matthew Smith, 81st Logistics Readiness Squadron, knocks the ball from the hands of Michael Wright, 333rd Training Squadron, during the intramural championship basketball game Feb. 16, 2012, at the Blake Fitness Center, Keesler Air Force Base, Miss. The 81st LRS defeated the 333rd TRS 46-41. (U.S. Air Force photo by Kemberly Groue)

81st Logistics Readiness Squadron wins crown

Published Feb. 22, 2012
By Sam Miller Ryan Rice
Intramural sports office

KEESLER AIR FORCE BASE, Miss. -- Two teams that brought a losing regular season record into the intramural basketball postseason tournament ended up in the championship finals Feb. 16.

The 81st Logistics Readiness Squadron, 2-8 in the Eastern Conference during the regular season, defeated the 333rd Training Squadron Spartans, 4-6 in the Western Conference during the regular season, with a final score of 46-41.

In the intramural finals, both teams put together impressive playoff wins, landing them in the finals.

The Spartans jumped out to an early lead, hitting three out of their first four three-point field goals, resulting in a 13-2 run at the 13:02 mark in the first half.

The 81st LRS buckled down defensively and cut the lead to 21-19 at the 3:57 mark. Both teams went into half time knotted up at 23. Adam Gonzalez-Kilgo, 81st LRS, led all scorers with 10 points at the half.

The second half went back and forth as both teams strengthened offensively. The Spartans kept the lead until 8:04 left in the second half, when the 81st LRS converted a key three-point goal to tie the game at 33-33. The 81st LRS players continued to shoot well from outside the arch and found themselves with a 42-39 lead with less than one minute left in regulation.

Derek Brooks, 333rd TRS, attempted a three-pointer that would have tied the game with 29.3 seconds remaining, but the 81st LRS secured the crucial defensive rebound, then added another two points that sealed the championship with the final score of 46-41.

Gonzalez-Kilgo led all scorers with 17 points, with Brooks as the Spartans' top scorer with 16.

The 81st LRS will represent Keesler against the Naval Construction Battalion Center in Gulfport for the inaugural basketball game between the two base champions, 6 p.m. Tuesday in Gulfport.