Chance meeting: Forfeits lead to earlier-than-planned competition

  • Published
  • By Staff Report
  • JBER PAO
JOINT BASE ELMENDORF-RICHARDSON, Alaska --  The 1st Squadron (Airborne), 40th Cavalry Regiment intramural basketball team wasn't scheduled to face the 98th Maintenance Company Monday night, but when both teams' opponents failed to show, that changed.

Sports officials working at Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson's Buckner Physical Fitness Center quickly realized the two teams were supposed to play each other next week, so the teams each received wins for their forfeited games, then took to the court to face each other.

The teams played a sloppy first half, with 1-40th taking a 29-23 edge into the intermission.

The cavalry Soldiers took control early in the second half, scoring fast-break baskets to run their lead into double-digits at 45-33.

The maintenance players fought back late in the game, cutting the deficit to single digits, and getting as close as five points, at 59-54, with less than a minute left.

Oddly enough, 98th's clean play and lack of fouls came back to haunt them, as they had to foul 1-40th players on three quick plays before they could send them to the free throw line to try to get the ball back.

When they finally sent Mark Trotz to the line, he hit the front end of a one-and-one, but missed the second shot. Jatavis Jackson followed with a basket as time expired, giving 1-40th a 62-54 victory.

Basketball games are played on Buckner's courts Mondays through Thursdays, beginning at 6 p.m. each night.

Indoor soccer matches are competed at Buckner Fridays starting at 6 p.m. and Saturdays beginning at 10 a.m.

Broomball matches are played on the ice rink outside Buckner Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays, beginning at 6:45 p.m.

Intramural volleyball play is scheduled to begin Feb. 15 at Buckner, with an organizational meeting set for 1 p.m., Feb. 10 in the Sports Office. For info, call 384-1304 or 384-1312.