ROC BOYZ gets rocked by G-SUPP

Photo By Staff Sgt. Kenneth Trotter Jr. | William A. Chatman, a G-SUPP shooting guard, prepares to fire off a free throw in an intramural basketball game against the ROC BOYZ at the IronWorks Gym sports courts here May 4. G-SUPP was on the winning end of a 49-36 rout. The ROC BOYZ attempted to keep the game close during the middle of the second half with a score of 38-32, but G-Supp outscored the ROC BOYZ 23-13 in the second half.  

IWAKUNI, YAMAGUCHI, JAPAN

05.04.2011

Story by Lance Cpl. Kenneth Trotter Jr. 

Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni

IWAKUNI, Japan - G-SUPP proved victorious against the ROC BOYZ with a final score of 49-36 during an intramural basketball game at the IronWorks Gym sports courts here, May 4.

G-SUPP was first to place points on the board.

During the early minutes of the first half, G-SUPP began to pull away from its competition by way of several well placed 3-point shots thanks in part to Steve A. Navar, G-SUPP point guard, and a series of fast breakaways.

The ROC BOYZ players were the proverbial Goliaths, towering over their opponents on the court that night as they attempted to use their dominating size and strength to their advantage.

“They were bigger than us, but we were more athletic,” said T.J. Ferguson, G-SUPP power forward and center. “We used their size to our advantage by running them to death up and down the court.”

The speed difference between the two teams was apparent at the end of the first half with the score 24-13 G-SUPP.

G-SUPP used its overwhelming size difference to its advantage by switching from a zone coverage defense to a man-to-man
defense, using their quickness and fast hands to make shooting more difficult for the ROC BOYZ.

Michael Smalls, ROC BOYZ center, and Earnest McKinney, ROC BOYZ small forward, and two of the more physically imposing members of the BOYZ, helped push forward in an attempt to bring their team within striking distance of their foes by closing the gap to within six points 38-32 in the middle of the second half.

“He [McKinney] was giving us the most problems,” said Ferguson.
Unfortunately, the size and strength advantage, coupled with poor shooting and costly turnovers late in the second half, proved to be the ROC BOYZ’s undoing as G-SUPP pulled further away with the lead.

G-SUPP outscored the ROC BOYZ in the second half 23-13.

“They didn’t have one dominant player on their team,” said McKinney. “It really was a team effort on their part.”

Nevertheless, the ROC BOYZ put up a valiant effort, continuing to take shots and fight for the ball until the final whistle blew. It was just not their night.

“We need to work on making more open shots and getting fast breakaways,” said McKinney. “Everybody has a job to do and we need to make sure and talk to the team about that.”

So far, this season the only losses the ROC BOYZ’ has suffered were against G-SUP.

“They’re a good, well-rounded team,” said Derrius R. Beverly, G-SUPP power forward. Though G-SUP emerged victorious, there still is room for improvement.

“Defense is our strong point,” said Ferguson. “But there’s always room for improvement.”

Both teams showed their determination while attempting to win the game.

G-SUPP, undaunted before its larger opponents, used its size and speed differential to dismantle its foes.

In defeat, the ROC BOYZ can potentially take what it experienced from the game and use it to improve as the season progresses.

• Date Taken: 05.04.2011
• Date Posted: 05.11.2011 01:29
• Story ID: 70193
• Location: IWAKUNI, YAMAGUCHI, JP