FORT RUCKER, Ala. (March 20, 2015) -- Despite a short season, the 2015 Fort Rucker Intramural Basketball season ended with a game fit for any championship bout.
The 1st Battalion, 58th Airfield Operations Battalion Black Hawks took on and beat two-year reigning champs 1st Bn., 11th Aviation Regiment Eagles during the 2015 Fort Rucker Intramural Basketball Post Championship Game in a double-elimination bout that went into a second game at the Fort Rucker Physical Fitness Center March 10.
"It feels really good to finally win this. It feels good to get one (of the championship titles) before I leave," said Donavan Murdock, coach for the Black Hawks. "I'm getting ready to PCS, so this one was really special."
The Black Hawks went undefeated during the season and had the advantage since they only had to win one game to take the title, but they struggled in the first game, losing by 14 points. But Murdock said his team's dedication and hard work made it able for them to pull out a win in the final game to take the championship.
"We just kept fighting -- that's all you can do is to keep fighting," he said. "We got discouraged at one point, but we continued to trust each other as a team and we came through together."
The first game started with the Black Hawks in possession, but they got off to a slow start as the Eagles managed to get the rebound and get on the scoreboard first with a three-point shot.
The 1-11th defense started strong as managed to hold their opponents off and score another two points before the Black Hawks got on the scoreboard.
The 1-58th AOB team was able to stay on the heels of their opponents, but despite how hard they tried, they were unable to close the small gap early on, despite constant fouls by the Eagles, allowing for multiple free throws.
About halfway through the first period, the Black Hawks managed to tie the game with a three pointer by Murdock, followed by a free throw, which allowed them to take the lead for the first time in the game.
They wouldn't hold onto the lead for long as the Eagles pushed back hard offensively and took back the lead and then some, but continued to foul their opponents, allowing the Black Hawks to stay within 10 points before the half.
The free throws wouldn't be enough to keep the 1-58th on their opponents trail as they seemed to get discouraged going into the second half.
The Eagles took possession to start the half and kept their momentum going, maintaining a comfortable lead throughout most of the half.
The Black Hawks managed to rally at one point, and inch closer toward their opponents, but that was short lived and they lost their stride as the clock wound down.
The 1-11th's superior passing allowed them to keep two steps ahead of their opponent's in the first game, to take the win, 55-41.
The championship was still up for grabs going into the second game, but both teams were noticeably worn.
The Eagles took possession to start the second game, and although they didn't make their first shot, a foul by the Black Hawks gave the 1-11th a chance at a free throw that put them on the board first.
The 1-58th AOB team allowed their opponents to pull six points ahead within the first few minutes of the half. It seemed the Eagles quick footwork and superior passing would win them the game as they took a comfortable lead against the Black Hawks.
However, as the game progressed on, both teams seemed to visibly tire, as neither was able to progress further on the scoreboard for much of the half. The Eagles managed to break the stagnation with only minutes remaining in the first half, and the Black Hawks quickly followed suit, sinking two three pointers and a layup to creep up on their opponents.
The 1-58th AOB seemed to catch their second wind as time ran out in the half, sinking multiple three-point shots, and managed to tie the game.
The Eagles weren't giving in so easily, though, as they started to match, point-for-point, what their opponents were doing. But the Black Hawks managed to take the lead for the first time with a buzzer-beating three-pointer to end the half up 26-25.
Riding off the high of the buzzer beater, the Black Hawks kept their momentum going in the second half, but the 1-11th wasn't going down without a fight.
The lead jumped back and forth throughout much of the half as both teams fought hard, but as the Eagles seemed to tire, the Black Hawks found their stride.
The 1-58th took full advantage of their newfound momentum, scoring shot after shot, and the Eagles couldn't keep up as the Black Hawks earned the title with a 57-49 victory.
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