Travis Intramural Basketball Championship

Chris Owen (4), 573rd Global Support Squadron, attempts to shoot the ball over Luke Choate (34), 60th Aerial Port Squadron during the Intramural Basketball championship game at the Travis Fitness Center March 26. The 573rd GSS held on to defeat the 60th APS, 50 to 48. (U.S. Air Force photo by Tech. Sgt. Donald Osborn)

Travis Intramural Basketball Championship

Published March 29, 2007
By Tech. Sgt. Donald Osborn
60th Air Mobility Wing Public Affairs

TRAVIS AIR FORCE BASE, Calif. -- The Travis Intramural basketball championship held at the Travis Fitness Center Monday night was an explosive game up and down the court and was full of determination, excitement and sorrow.

The championship pitted the two champions from the large unit bracket and the small unit bracket. They each earned their spot by weaving through the playoff brackets that consisted of eight different teams.

The 573rd Global Support Squadron jumped out to an early lead in the first period and never looked back. All game long, up and down the court, these warriors gave it all they had.

The 60th Aerial Port Squadron was behind in scoring most of the game, but they didn't allow the 573rd GSS to stray too far.

They were down by eight points with less than two minutes remaining in the game, but the 60th APS wasn't ready to throw in the towel just yet. They came back to close the gap to three points with only seconds left in the game. That's when Fred Johnson, 60th APS, shot what seemed to be a 3-pointer to tie the game, but the goal only counted as two. He ended the game with 24 total points, but it wasn't enough to overcome the opposition. When the squeaking of the shoes was finally silenced, the 573rd GSS were able to hang on to their lead.

At the sound of the final buzzer, it was the 573rd GSS rose above the pack and were crowned champions, outscoring the 60th APS 50 to 48 in a nail-biting game right down to the wire.

The 60th APS, large unit champions, finished the season with an 11-2 record, and the 573rd GSS, small unit champions, walked away from it all with a 10-3 record.

Both teams performed like the champions they are, leaving everything they had on the paint, except the respect for each other they took with them off of the court.

For more information about Travis Intramural sports, contact Tech. Sgt. Mario Mason at 424-1479, or Staff Sgt. Kenneth Henson at 424-2085.