Army, Navy score early basketball wins against Marines, Air Force

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  • By Staff Sgt. J. Paul Croxon
  • Defense Media Activity
COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (AFNS) --  Both the Army and Navy scored first-round wheelchair basketball wins May 17 during the 2011 Warrior Games here.

The Army bested their rival from last year with a 39-24 win over the Marine Corps during the first day of the wheelchair basketball competition. Though both teams played with dramatic intensity, the Army achieved and maintained a lead over the Marines for most of the game. Even with the first-game loss, the Marines are still in the running for an overall win.

"We're going to do what we did last year," said one of the Marine Corps coaches, referring to the Marines' overall win over the Army during last year's finals. "We've added a few more plays and have practiced a few new techniques, but we're going to approach it the way we did last year."

The Air Force added new players and developed new plays for the 2011 series. Despite losing to the Navy 23-14, the Air Force demonstrated improved passing and agility for many of their points.

"Last year we were basically just five people throwing a ball around," said retired Chief Master Sgt. Damian Orslene, a returnee from last year. "This year we're using plays and communicating better."

All four teams hit the courts again May 20 for the second preliminary round, which determines the rankings going into the finals.