Striking down the competition: AMXS 'Cobras' take championship from Red Devils in one game

  • Published
  • By Senior Airman Stephen Collier
  • 8th Fighter Wing Public Affairs
KUNSAN AIR BASE, Republic of Korea --    No one could have planned it better. After trailing all evening and tying at 48, a quick release by the Cobra's Casey Tramble put the 8th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron ahead by three, leaving the 8th Civil Engineer Squadron 'Red Devils' in the second place slot overall. 

  Both teams went into the first half tenacious, striking back at each other offensively with consecutive layups, keeping the score rocketing skyward. But lost offensive rebounds by the Cobra team translated to big plays by CES, helped by the court-dominating center Anthony 'Bear' Barrett. 

  But back-to-back-to-back three pointers by Cobra sharpshooter Kevin 'Flip' Tasker, combined with his signature tongue flapping in the wind, launched the snakes back into the game to trail by two. 

  After a five-minute halftime, the Devils took control once again, dominating the boards with arguably a better-organized team. Helped by the undeniably-audible voice of head coach Chad Webb, CE and its crowd help to rally the dominating Devils. 

  Later in the second half, a four-minute stretch of dry spells on the board from missed shots and tough defenses all around were broken with a steal by AMXS and a court-length toss to Tasker for a layup. 

  Tasker then double backed after a Red Devil jump shot to sink consecutive threes again, inching the Cobras up 48-45. 

  Another missed shot by the Red Devils translated into another Cobra three from the outside by shooter Brian Racy, tying the game for the first time all night. 

  With an excited AMXS crowd on their feet, the Red Devils with fouled, missing both shots with Cobras recovering the rebound. A pass to Tramble secured another three pointer, and put the Cobras up for the first time all night with :03 left on the clock. A Cobra foul on CE wouldn't be enough for them to rally, letting the Cobras take the championship 51-50. 

  "I was nervous 'cause I hadn't hit a shot all night," said Tramble after being asked what was going through his head during the game-winning shot. "We played good team ball and I was fortunate to hit one from the side. I got the one that counted ... all that matters." 

  The Cobras ended the season with 19 wins to three losses. Respectively, the Red Devils topped the charts with 19 wins and only two losses.