81st FSS-CPTS claims Over-30 League crown

As Dennis Brigman, 81st FSS-CPTS, dives for the ball in the foreground, he’s flanked by (from left) Jason Washington, Jason Guy, Tomeika Washington, Ed Simpson, Gary Hutcheson and Lonnie Slater during the final postseason game between the 81st FSS-CPTS and 333rd TRS. Jason and Tomeika Washington, Simpson and Hutcheson played for the Mad Ducks and Guy and Slater were members of the 81st FSS-CPTS team. The 81st FSS-CPTS won the final game, 50-26, to earn the Over-30 basketball championship. (U.S. Air Force photo by Kemberly Groue)

81st FSS-CPTS claims Over-30 League crown

Published Feb. 17, 2010
By Sam Miller
Intramural sports office

KEESLER AIR FORCE BASE, Miss. -- The combined 81st Force Support and Comptroller Squadron team claimed the Over 30 League championship Feb. 11 by defeating the 333rd Training Squadron in two straight games.

The 81st FSS-CPTS undoubtedly brought its "A" game to the postseason tournament. In rising from the losers' bracket, the team had to nail two victories in a row, and they did -- escaping with a 46-41 margin in the first game and winding up with an impressive 50-26 victory in the second game.

The 333rd TRS Mad Ducks were the clear favorite coming into the postseason tournament with a remarkable regular season record of 8-0 and an average margin of victory of 25.6 points per game.

The 81st FSS-CPTS had a formidable task as the postseason tournament began. Boasting a 7-2 regular season record and a three-game win streak, they had plenty of momentum to overcome any opponent. With a 57-32 first-round defeat of the 81st Security Forces Squadron, the 81st FSS looked forward to a rematch with the Mad Ducks after losing to them twice in the regular season, 62-53 on Dec. 2 and 58-46 Jan. 11.

As postseason play began, the 333rd TRS routed 81st FSS-CPTS, 60-43, relegating the losers to the lower bracket to face the 81st SFS again. A 59-38 win over the cops put 81st FSS-CPTS back in position to grasp the postseason title.

Facing 333rdTRS for a second time in the tournament and fourth time overall, 81st FSS-CPTS was finally able to complete a two-game sweep and claim its second straight Over-30 championship.

The 81st FSS-CPTS coach, Ramon Santiago, expressed his exuberance by saying, "On the court we worked and played hard, and most importantly we worked together as a team."