315 AW basketball team places third in tourney Published March 13, 2011 By Senior Airman Robert Pilch 315th Airlft Wing Public Affairs JOINT BASE CHARLESTON, S.C. -- Airmen assigned to the 315th Airlift Wing took third place in intramural basketball after a 47-35 victory against the 628th Security Forces Squadron during the play-offs March 9-10, here. "Everyone played well together," said Lt. Col. Kevin A. McManus, a pilot with the 701st Airlift Squadron and team coach. "Zone defense was our strategy since most of us had not played together before." "A key victory for us getting to the play-offs came during the final game when we were down by six points with a minute-and-a-half left to play and we came back to win by two points," said McManus. "It was accomplished completely by free-throws." Formed in the fall of 2010, the team played together for the first time this season and was comprised of servicemembers from all areas of the wing and brought various levels of skill to the game. "We started playing in the summer of 2010 and then formed an actual team in the fall," said McManus. McManus said the team was surprised they performed as well as they did with limited practice time due to team members' commitments to civilian jobs and families. While some sports enthusiasts are all about winning, the primary focus for the 315 AW's intramural team was two-fold. "We do it primarily for fun and comradery," said McManus. "It is also good to have an outlet outside of work for wing morale." In additional to bringing servicemembers together, intramural sports promote the Air Force's mission of fitness and being a fit-to-fight airman. Looking to the future, McManus plans on the team competing next season and moving up in the ranks to become a major contender at Joint Base Charleston. Stay up to date with the 315th Airlift Wing at http://www.315aw.afrc.af.mil/. Follow the 315 AW on Facebook and Twitter.