CHAMPS! 435th MDG earns title

The intramural basketball team from the 435th Medical Group repeated as base champions with a thrilling double-overtime victory over undefeated 435th CS on Feb. 16.

The 435th MDG team took the long road back to the championship pedestal due to a 53-50 fourth-round loss to the 435th CS team.

The loss forced 435th MDG to navigate through  the losers bracket.

After a 65-60 win over U.SSS and a 25-point victory over 1st CBCS, 435th MDG emerged from the loser’s bracket and earned a rematch with 435th CS.

***image1***The only catch was, coming out of the losers bracket they had to beat a team that hadn’t been beaten all year, twice in a row.

The 435th MDG wasn’t deterred by this, as they were determined to defend their league title.

“They wanted something that we had and we weren’t going to give it up easily,” said 435th MDG player Byron Owens.

The 435th MDG didn’t only change their mentality they also made some tweaks to their gameplan, especially on the defensive side of the ball.

“We changed our defense by stepping up the intensity,” said Owens.

With a change in mentality and a change in strategy, the 435th MDG ripped off wins by scores of 89-83 and 85-82, with the second coming in double-overtime.

435th MDG’s James Sheard, made the plays of the game by hitting the clutch, game-tying free throws to send the game to the first overtime.