Marine Corps Recruit Depot Parris Island -- CLC-23 hammered the final nail into PMO’s coffin Feb. 7 during an intramural basketball when they buried them 65 – 61.
The game was close, like all of PMO’s games so far, but the same thing happens every time. They start strong, but eventually lose.
“We’re going to win,” said Woodrow Brydson, acting PMO coach, who is from Montengo Bay, Jamaica. “We’re going to keep pushing the ball.”
Brydson ended up eating those words.
The primary reason for PMO’s loss was CLC-23’s Gregory Galica, who scored 20 unassisted points.
He wasn’t the only one racking up the points.
Elijah Colclough had 15 points for CLC-23, followed by Toney Coleman who scored eight.
Brydson wasn’t happy about this.
“The defense is being too sluggish,” the 29-year-old basketball player said. “We are definitely going to discuss this at halftime. It’s going to get fixed.”
CLC-23 wasn’t doing much better at this point.
They had a 10-point lead over PMO during the first half, but they quickly lost it.
PMO’s Ryan Rick scored 15 points during the game, Xavier Wethington scored nine points, and Jason Robinson scored six.
Brydson was pleased with the teams scoring. But he wasn’t settling for it, not by a long shot.
“We got the score closer,” Brydson said. “We just need to keep going.”
That was something CLC-23’s coach, Chiquita Jackson, a 30-year-old from Butler, Ala., wouldn’t accept.
“Keep getting the ball,’ Jackson shouted at her team. “I said, ‘get the ball.’”
CLC-23 just wasn’t moving fast enough.
PMO managed a basket leading into the first of three overtimes. They weren’t about to give up.
“I’m still positive my team will win,” Brydson said.
Jackson wasn’t feeling his optimism.
“They got to have endurance,” Jackson said, referring to her team. “They got to want the ball.”
CLC-23 looked as if they had given up. Jackson noticed and wasn’t happy.
“Right now, they’re kicking me in the (rear),” Jackson exclaimed.
PMO’s players were also feeling the pressure.
“We’re trying to win,” said Brandon Willson, a 22-year-old from Memphis, Tenn. “We’ve had too many close games, but I think we can win this one.”
PMO could have won it, but they lost a valuable player.
Josh O’Brian, PMO’s giant defense against CLC-23, had fouled out of the game. CLC-23 had no problem scoring once he was on the pine.
Jackson was happy with the win. However, her anger didn’t subside.
“I’m surprised we didn’t have the teamwork out there,” Jackson said behind clenched teeth. “We will get it back.”
This may have been a victory for CLC-23, but it looks like they may have some stormy weather from their coach heading their way.