FORT SILL, Okla.-- Those who watched A Battery, 2nd Battalion, 2nd Field Artillery play basketball against the 77th Army Band Feb. 2, probably still have a cramped neck. The ball was traded on the court like the New York Stock Exchange and the points rose evenly until "Big Deuce" spiked ahead to win 45-32.
A foul started the game as Alandus Ray, 2-2nd FA, stepped up to the foul line and drained two. Erik Pyne, 77th Army Band, was fouled seconds later but only managed to make one shot.
Each team had another chance at the free-throw line before Michael Bolton, 77th Army Band, made it known that he was very comfortable shooting from a distance. His first three pointer of the night only put them up by one point before they tied at eight points, 11 points and again at 13.
With 2:45 left in the first half, "Big Deuce" substituted out its entire first team to put fresh legs on the court.
Ray's determination broke the tie as he, in quick succession: fired off a shot, missed, rebounded, dribbled around defenders and finally forced the two to make it 17-13 in 2-2nd FA's favor.
Bolton managed to make two more 3-pointers but David Cecil, 2-2nd FA, drained a three with eight seconds left to finish the half 22-21.
Shortly after the teams came back out, Ray and Sean Dell, 2-2nd FA, were fouled which resulted in one basket.
The sharing of points ended when 2-2nd FA switched to a more agressive pace and "Big Deuce's" Ray, William Norval and Clarence Underwood took turns racing away from their opponents for quick layups.
"We went man-to-man in the second half instead and started pressing the ball more," said Ray.
Bolton was still dropping threes, but it wasn't enough as "Big Deuce" took the game.
"We were just having fun. We had the right people on the court at the right time and we started playing together. That's all it was," said Underwood.
"We didn't know we were going to win," said Ray. "I don't ever underestimate anybody. You come in and play the game and what happens during the game that's how you play it."
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