Redemption -- Wolf Pack closes curtain on Showstoppers

By Russell SellersMarch 11, 2011

Redemption -- Wolf Pack closes curtain on Showstoppers
1 / 2 Show Caption + Hide Caption – (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL
Redemption -- Wolf Pack closes curtain on Showstoppers
2 / 2 Show Caption + Hide Caption – B Co., 1st Bn., 145th Avn. Regt. Showstoppers player Chris Artis attempts to break through the 597th Maintenance Company Wolf Pack defense during the teams' intramural basketball game March 7 at Fortenberry-Colton Physical Fitness Facility. The Wolf ... (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL

FORT RUCKER, Ala. -- It wasn't the prettiest win, but the Wolf Pack from 597th Maintenance Company was happy to take one over the Showstoppers from B Company, 1st Battalion, 145th Aviation Regiment March 7.

Despite a series of missed passes and dropped rebounds in the second half, the Wolf Pack managed to hold on for a 59-52 win. The win certainly made up for the season-opening loss the Showstoppers handed the Wolf Pack Jan. 24, said 597th coach Doug Crawford.

"We had a couple of guys who didn't show up, but the guys that did played hard and showed a lot of heart," he said. "In the end, we just wanted it more."

Getting the win was hardly easy for the Wolf Pack. The two teams answered every point scored in the first quarter. It wasn't until the second quarter that the 597th was able to take a modest lead and hold it until the buzzer, leaving the score 27-25.

The second half was all about defense for both teams as each experienced almost simultaneous offensive failure.

Showstoppers players Chris Artis and Hubert Agard lead the charge in the second half, pulling the majority of the team's rebounds and even going for long, almost uninterrupted runs down the court. Unfortunately for them, putting points on the board proved to be more difficult.

The Wolf Pack experienced similar problems with some of its players. Jeremy Stephan grabbed several rebounds and managed to get several breakaways during the second half, but he faced tough opposition at the goal.

Still, the combined shooting of Doug Crawford and Travis Burton helped keep the Wolf Pack on top and even gave the team a 10-point lead late in the fourth quarter.

As the fourth quarter wore on, the Showstoppers began to lose focus, which allowed a big, demoralizing breakaway by Wolf Pack player Mike Sheldon, who put the cherry on top with a big dunk.

The Showstopper strategy shifted in the final two minutes toward drawing fouls in order to close the point gap, but it was too little too late.

Showstoppers coach Frank Wilson said the chemistry with his current crop of players isn't quite up to par yet, but they plan to work on that in practice.

"We've lost a couple of players who are in school right now and one (out with injury)," he said. "That definitely hurt us, but the (break-down in strategy) was my fault."

Wilson said the shift from 2-1-2 zone coverage to man coverage was a mistake and he plans to work with his team in practice on adjusting its coverage.

"We had the better speed, but it wasn't enough at the end," he said. "We've got to work on team chemistry. We have a lot of new guys now, so we've got to work out playing as a team."