Tyndall Intramural basketball season starts

  • Published
  • By Staff Sgt. Timothy R. Capling
  • 325th Fighter Wing Public Affairs
TYNDALL AIR FORCE BASE, Fla. --  The 2008 Tyndall Air Force Base intramural basketball season opened at the fitness center Dec. 10.

Sixteen teams are slated to play this season, which runs through Feb. 28 when playoffs begin. Each team is scheduled to play 15 regular season games. The top four teams will then square off in a double-elimination playoff tournament. All games will fall under National Collegiate Athletic Association rules with some modifications to suit the league.

The league is open to all active duty military members and their dependents 18 and older, contractors, retirees, Department of Defense employees and military members serving at Tyndall AFB on temporary duty status for more than 30 days.

"Like all other sports, basketball season promotes camaraderie and esprit de corps throughout the base," said Richard Byers, fitness center sports director and season coordinator.

Many of the team's coaches have high hopes for the season.

Roger Thornton, 325th Air Control Squadron team coach, took the reins as head coach after being an assistant coach and player last year.

"We finished at about .500 last year. I think we're going to be better," he said "We have a deep team and have a lot of hard workers."

Monica Mason, 325th Mission Support Squadron team coach, is also taking her first crack at being a league coach. A former division one and division two basketball player, Coach Mason hopes to bring some of her college experience to the team.

"I'm looking for everyone to play hard and have enthusiasm," she said. "I want us to go out there and have some fun."

The 325th Security Forces Squadron is making a return to the league after a year off due to heavy deployments, said assistant coach Toyre Hudson.

"We have eight players on the team this year," said Coach Hudson. "Our goal is to have a winning season. Some of our strong points are our competitiveness, hard working players and pushing the ball at every opportunity."

For more information on the season or schedule, contact a squadron sports representative or the fitness center at 283-2631.