NIOC comes back to rout Hangar 5

Navy Information Operations Command (NIOC) guard Cryptologic Technician (Maintenance) 2nd Class J'mese White muscles up a shot past a Hangar 5 defender in a Blue Division intramural basket- ball game at Hickam Fitness Center gym, Joint Base Pearl Harbor- Hickam on Feb. 13.

Sports Editor

Down by 10 points early in the second half, back-to-back lay-ups by point guard Cryptologic Technician (Networks) 2nd Class Reauthtie Yun and a three-point splashdown by Cryptologic Technician (Maintenance) 2nd Class Chris Smith ignited a 21-0 run, as Navy Information Operations Command (NIOC) stayed unbeaten. They secured a 47-34 win over previously undefeated Hangar 5 in a Blue Division intramural basketball game at Hickam Fitness Center gym, Joint Base Pearl HarborHickam on Feb. 13.

Playing from behind at 23-17 at halftime, NIOC seemed to be headed for their first defeat of the season. Then Hangar 5 forward Airman 1st Class Phillip Vandenberg dropped a three-point shot at the start of the second half before hitting back-to-back baskets to give his team a 10-point, 32-22, lead with 14:50 left on the clock.

However, Yun broke free on a couple of fast breaks to cut the lead down to six before Smith pulled up from the right wing and zeroed in on a huge three-point shot that reduced the margin to three at 3229. The three-shot sequence appeared to breathe life into the NIOC attack as the team shut down Hangar 5′s offense, while beating its opponent down court for easy fast-break baskets.

NIOC head coach Master Chief Yeoman Darrin Bobbitt said the turn of events started when the team’s big men controlled the boards, and the defense stepped up its game.

Yeoman 2nd Class Adriel Frazier and Department of Defense civilian Mark Moore used their big bodies to limit Hangar 5 to single shots, while Yun and guard Cryptologic Technician (Maintenance) 2nd Class J’mese White took the outlet passes and pushed the ball up court at full speed.

Bobbitt said Smith’s trey put the team back in sync.

“That was real big because it freed our big men to go ahead and play more aggressive,” Bobbitt noted. “It was hard, pressure defense. That’s all. When we were down, I told them, ‘Hey, we got to go hard and give me 100 percent.’ And that’s what they did.”

Yun also pointed to Smith’s trey as the turning point of the game.

“Oh man, that made us happy,” said Yun, who tossed in a teamhigh 14 points. “That was a momentum changer. We saw their faces, they were getting down, and so we just took advantage of them.”

Following Smith’s shot, Yun cut the Hangar 5 lead down to a single digit with a basket at the 13:09 mark of the second half, and then the floodgates opened.

A basket by Cryptologic Technician (Maintenance) 3rd Class Michael Lyles put NIOC ahead at 33-32, and was followed up by a putback from White, a lay-up by White on an assist from Yun, a free throw from Frazier, two more free throws by Lyles, and finally baskets from White and Lyles made it 43-32. Then Hangar 5 finally ended the siege on a goal from guard Tech. Sgt. Blane Woodard with only 1:39 on the clock.

Prior to Woodard’s shot, Hangar 5 was held scoreless for 13 minutes.

“It wasn’t our offense, it was our defense,” said Vandenberg about his team’s scoring drought. “Our defense fell apart. We let people drive baseline, we didn’t put our hand up with the shot. We win the game if we play good defense, not offense.”

For the game, Vandenberg led Hangar 5 with 16 points, which included three treys, while teammate Airman 1st Class Marshawn Roan chipped in 12.

Meanwhile, NIOC saw seven players record points, with Lyles and Smith right behind Yun with 10 and eight points apiece.

“This was pretty big because we’re missing some key players,” said Yun about handing Hangar 5 their first loss of the season. “This will keep our confidence up.”