RANDOLPH AIR FORCE BASE, Texas –
Led by a buzzer-beating shot by Chuck Freeman, Air Force Personnel Center #1 beat the 12th Medical Group in two games Wednesday to win its second consecutive Randolph intramural basketball championship.
Freeman hit a 17-foot jump shot as time ran out to win the first game for AFPC #1, 51-50, and continued his strong play into the doubleheader, with AFPC #1 winning 59-47.
AFPC #1 needed to win two games in a row to successfully defend its intramural crown in the double-elimination playoff format held at the Rambler Fitness Center.
Tuesday, the 12th MDG gave AFPC #1 its only loss of the season in the semifinals. AFPC #1 fought off elimination and got back into the championship bracket by defeating a fellow unit team, AFPC #2, Tuesday night.
In the closing seconds of the first game, it seemed the 12th MDG would deny AFPC #1 its fourth championship in eight years until Freeman came to the rescue. With more than two seconds left, AFPC #1's Ernie Banks threw a full-court inbounds pass to Freeman, who jumped up and caught the ball near the right wing three-point line. Freeman then dribbled between two defenders and got off a running shot to beat the buzzer.
Freeman said he gave Banks simple instructions that set up his game-winning shot.
"I told Ernie Banks to throw the ball down court and I would get it," said Freeman, after the awards and trophy presentation was completed. "I got the best look I could get and fortunately, I got it off. The shot came off good, I was hoping it would not be short, but it went down. Game over."
The 12th MDG had a four-point lead with 7.2 seconds remaining, but Tate Lundy hit a baseline three-pointer to get AFPC #1 within one with 4.6 seconds remaining. The 12th MDG still had a chance to win the game but missed two bonus free throws in the closing seconds.
AFPC #1 coach Scott Forsmann said he could not have foreseen his team's miraculous victory in the first game.
"The end of the first game was very exciting," Forsmann said. "I didn't know if we would pull it out at the end."
Freeman, who scored 18 points in the first game, pumped in 19 in the second game. Anthony Graham led AFPC #1 with 23 points in the second game, hitting three consecutive three-pointers that spurred AFPC #1 to a 15-point lead with four minutes left.
The closest the 12th MDG would get in the second game was five, but AFPC #1 was able to clinch the championship by hitting their free throws down the stretch.
Forsmann said winning the championship was a good way for AFPC #1, who finished 12-1, to complete its near perfect season.
"It would have been nice to have gone undefeated, but we still won the championship," he said. "So we are not complaining."
Coach L.P. Williams, 12th MDG coach, said AFPC #1 deserved to win the championship, but that her team still put up a good fight.
"I finished out with a good group of guys," she said. "My hats are off to AFPC, they have a good coach and tremendous talent."