MARINE CORPS AIR STATION, Japan -- The Marine Aircraft Group 12 team, Primo Box, maintained its undefeated status in the Intramural Summer Basketball League after an uncharacteristic game against Combat Service Support Detachment 36, Dragons, at the Marine Corps Community Services IronWorks Gym, June 17.
The action started with the opening tip-off, but sadly didn’t pick back up until later in the game. After many unsuccessful ventures up and down the court by both teams, the scoreboard came to life with a free throw by Chad L. Bowler, Primo Box center.
The rate of game play continued with both teams combined only averaging less than one point every two minutes.
“Both teams had a very strong defense that night,” said Glenn P. McNamara, Dragons assistant coach and player. “It was just a case of both defenses outplaying the other team’s offense.”
It was a close match at the end of the first half with Primo Box up by one going into halftime. With a score that closely resembled a football game, 8-7, both teams knew they needed to start producing more baskets, if they wanted to win.
“The first half went extremely slow because it was the first time our team had played together, so we were trying to find our rhythm,” said Isaac H. Friend, Primo Box coach and player. “At the half, we decided to put in our best players and get some points on the board, before it was too late.”
The second half seemed as if it would be a carbon copy of the first until finally, after five minutes of scoreless game play, Primo Box broke into double digits when Ralph C. Morrison, Primo Box point guard, sank consecutive free-throws to put the score at 10-7. During the latter portion of the second half, the game picked up and Primo Box started putting together an impressive streak. With Primo Box gearing up to run away with the win, the Dragons answered back.
McNamara, Dragons assistant coach and player, took charge of his team and sank back-to-back threes to bring the Dragons within a few baskets of Primo Box. Unfortunately, he couldn’t do it alone. McNamara accounted for seven of the eight points scored by the Dragons in the second half.The inability of the Dragons to score as a team allowed Primo Box to easily seal the W.
Primo Box controlled the ball for the last few minutes of the game waiting for the clock to tick down to their victory. Morrison led Primo Box in the second half sinking four field goals and three free throws.