Air Force takes bronze in wheelchair basketball

  • Published
  • By Staff Sgt. J. Paul Croxon
  • Defense Media Activity - San Antonio
COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (AFNS) --  The Air Force bested the Navy 13 - 10 to earn the bronze medal in wheelchair basketball May 12 at the inaugural Warrior Games here at the U.S. Olympics Training Center.

After a sound loss to the Marine Corps in the first game of wheelchair basketball and a win against the Navy in game two May 11, the Air Force played the Army team and lost.  For the bronze medal match, they defeated the Navy team for a second time. This match; however, proved to be harder won than the first.

"We've faced the Air Force twice and lost twice," said Team Navy's head coach Mark Heniser. "They're a good team and this game was much closer than the first."

The Air Force and Navy were tied at 10 points apiece with 1:25 left on the clock in the second half. A basket put the Air Force ahead, but it was a penalty shot by former Air Force Staff Sgt. Matt Sanders at the 2.7-second mark that sealed the fate for the Navy. However, for him the game's rewards weren't limited to the medal.

"Hey, we worked hard," he said. "Even if we didn't get the bronze we had a good time and the whole purpose behind this is to come together, camaraderie, Air Force, hu-ah and do our best."

The medal will be presented Thursday after the silver and gold medals are decided when the Marine Corps and Army teams face off.