Photo By Devon Suits | The Army and the Navy participated in round two of the 2014 Warrior Games wheelchair...... read more read more
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COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. – The thunderous sound of drumming carried over the gymnasium as feet and flag poles slammed down on the gym bleachers. “Boom … boom … boom-boom-boom,” echoed throughout the room followed by a bellowing chant from the fans, “Let’s go, Army.”
The sound and emotion from the Army fans rolled across the basketball court to the opposing bleachers like a tidal wave, only to be met by the loud cheering and chanting of Navy fans, “Let’s go, Navy.”
The stage was set for the first meeting between the Army and the Navy wheelchair basketball teams at the 2014 Warrior games here, Sept. 30.
The first half brought some high-energy basketball. Score for score, the Navy and Army appeared to be equally matched.
Midway through the first half, the Army began to show their size, capitalizing on defensive rebounds and pushing ahead of the Navy 14-8.
In the closing minutes of the first half, the Navy’s tempo picked up, combined with some strong defense. They closed the gap and both teams went into halftime 14-14.
“We started off a little slow … maybe because it was our first game,” said Jermell Pennie, the coach of the Army wheelchair basketball team. “We calmed down and executed what we needed to do.”
The second half started off much like the first, as both teams fought for an edge against the competition. The speed and physicality of the game picked up for both teams, but in the end, the Army’s size and defense appeared to wear down the Navy as they pulled away with the victory 37-30.
“It is the ultimate team game and nobody can win by themselves,” said Army Sgt. Delvin Maston. “Everyone has to be involved in order for us to be successful.”
The Army’s next challenge is the Air Force, but for Mason, this game of wheelchair basketball means a lot more.
“I played a lot of basketball before being injured and basketball is what really saved my life,” he said. “It is my way to get a release. It’s my therapy … and there isn’t any other game like it.
“The funny part is the guy who taught me how to play wheelchair basketball is the coach for the Air Force,” Mason said. “He is like a mentor to me – like a father. I know they are going to be well coached, and I know they are going to be well prepared to play.”
| Date Taken: | 09.30.2014 |
| Date Posted: | 10.01.2014 19:56 |
| Story ID: | 143969 |
| Location: | COLORADO SPRINGS, COLORADO, US |
| Web Views: | 46 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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