442nd clinches championship in overtime

  • Published
  • By Staff Sgt. Jason Barebo
  • 509th Bomb Wing Public Affairs
WHITEMAN AIR FORCE BASE, Mo. --  In a battle of the best teams in the Over-30 Whiteman Basketball League, the 442nd Fighter Wing took on the 509th Force Support Squadron Feb. 23 at the Whiteman Fitness Center.

Trailing the 509th FSS the entire game, the 442nd FW clinched a narrow victory over their opponents after two minutes of overtime with a final score of 45 - 42.

With a score of 42 - 39, favoring the 509th FSS, and three seconds left victory seemed certain. Coming out of a time-out the 442nd made a few fast passes with the ball ending in the hands of Jeff Pahl who created a turning point in the game with a 3-pointer at the buzzer taking the two teams into overtime. 

"During the timeout, Mark 'Rags' Ernewein told me to slide down and set a pick on his man, allowing Rags to receive the ball inbounds," Pahl said. "As soon as his man was stopped by me, he had a couple of seconds to receive the ball.

"I flared out and caught the pass from Rags and released the ball for the shot," he said. "I saw their big guy coming toward me but I just shot the ball and this one went in." 

During the two-minute grueling overtime, players on both teams pushed themselves to the limit to score for their team and block their rivals.

Kellie Askew from the 442nd clinched victory for his team as he drove in for two points while drawing a foul for a shot. Making the shot, Askew put his team up by three with 1:15 remaining.

The FSS pushed themselves to the limit to get ahead, but was unable to surpass the 442nd's defense. 

The 442nd FW won the championship for the fifth time in seven years.