JOINT BASE SAN ANTONIO-LACKLAND, Texas –
The Cryptologic Systems Division Rim Rockers 73-54 win over the Rattlers from Howard College's Southwest Collegiate Institute for the Deaf Saturday at the Chaparral Fitness Center wasn't about wins or losses.
The basketball exhibition was about showing sportsmanship and goodwill between two sports programs.
"We wanted to put on a good showing," Rim Rockers basketball coach Davin Dukes said. "We have guys with good character on this team so it was great that we were chosen to represent the Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland sports program."
With SWCID looking to prepare for some upcoming tournaments, Lackland Intramural Sports Director Gerry Tiger chose the Rim Rockers to play the Rattlers because unlike previous opponents from years before, they would not try to run up the score against the collegiate school.
This was the Rattlers' third straight year playing JBSA-Lackland teams after JBSA-Randolph and JBSA-Fort Sam Houston declined to play them.
Tiger specifically chose the Rim Rockers because he has known Dukes a long time.
"Davin is a guy; I know he is of high character," said Tiger. "I knew his team wouldn't do anything to embarrass the Rattlers by running up the score."
While the game was about sportsmanship, it did get competitive at times, as the Rattlers cut a first-half high 20-point deficit down to 10 before the Rim Rockers' Jaylon Dukes daggered in a 3-pointer to end the half.
The Rim Rockers and other base intramural teams play two 18-minute halves with no clock stoppage.
The exhibition game between the Rim Rockers and the Rattlers had 20-minute halves with some clock stoppage.
"We had to come together and say 'let's stop messing around,'" Dukes said. "I wouldn't say we were gassed but we were close to getting there."
The Rim Rockers got back on track, going on an 11-0 run at the beginning of the second half.
Crypto held the Rattlers scoreless for over seven minutes, expanding its lead to a game-high 25 points. CSD's Toni Hui led all scorers with 16; Try Jones had 12.
The Rim Rockers are currently in third place at 5-2 in Division I intramural basketball.
Looking ahead, Dukes expects the exhibition game will help CSD in its quest for a playoff run and a playoff berth in the JBSA Intramural Basketball Championship.
"It was a hard two hours of running up and down the court, but playing with more time helped us gel as a team," Dukes said. "They made a run late in the first half, but once we were able to slow them down, we were able catch our breath."