2-18th FA defeats 31st ADA, 42-27

By Ms Marie Berberea (TRADOC)February 2, 2012

intramural basketball
(Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL

FORT SILL, Okla.-- The defending post intramural basketball champions stepped on the court Jan. 26 and they were not leaving without a win.

2nd Battalion, 18th Field Artillery "Mission Ready" accomplished that goal and is inching closer to another trophy after defeating Headquarters, Headquarters Battery, 31st Air Defense Artillery 42-27.

HHB/31st did not go down without a fight, as the teams furiously traded the ball the entire game. While it seemed like an even match in the beginning, 2-18th's shooters proved to be too much.

"We ran the zone because we wanted to figure out if they had shooters. Once we realized they didn't have shooters it was easy pickin's after that. They had a shooter we would've switched to man but, zone all day for them," said Rasheem Hargett 2-18th FA.

Hargett was the high scorer with 17 points, and when asked why their team did so well, he answered: leadership.

"Our strategy was to play good fundamental defense and control our turnovers," said former coach, Ronnie Bonham, 2-18th FA.

Bonham coached the team to victory last year but came out of retirement to hopefully, play them to victory again this year.

"I love the game. It's a passion, so I decided to come out one last time," said Bonham.

Second half

"I saw the game getting out of control. A little pushing was going and the guys were getting away from the strategy. It seemed like one of our guys was letting the other players get inside his head and it kind of got him out of the game a little bit. I had to reel them back in," said Bonham.

With a little over three minutes left in the game, HHB-31st scored five more points to end the game with 27 points. 2-18th is now 3-0 going into the fourth week of intramurals.

"We crashed the boards and made sure we got the defensive rebound and we got quite a few offensive rebounds which I think helped us with the victory," said Bonham.