Nellis Basketball Team shows glimpses of perfection Published Oct. 6, 2009 By Airman 1st Class Michael Charles Nellis Public Affairs NELLIS AIR FORCE BASE, Nev. -- After two blowouts, a 79-76 victory over Camp Pendleton, Calif., was all that was needed to assure the Nellis Men's Basketball Team kicked off their season undefeated, when they opened league play at the Nellis Fitness Center Oct 3-4. Down 75 -76 with 58 seconds left in the fourth quarter, Nellis forward Marico Gray, converted a stolen ball into a three-point play - giving Nellis a two-point lead and an eventual 3-0 start in Pacific West Military Athletic Conference play. "We came out to prove something this weekend," said Gray. "If we keep playing like we did against those teams then we will be successful. "I was proud seeing everything working how we practiced it," said Nellis men's basketball coach James Wright. "It was shocking. We have come a long way chemistry wise, to be able to play with the efficiency that we demonstrated last weekend." Playing as the first official Nellis team in four years, they started the weekend by beating Fort Bliss, Texas, in a blowout 108-58, in a game that left the Nellis team short-handed when starting point guard Dwan Knight went down with an injury. "I was worried when he went down," said Coach Wright. "I'm just happy we were prepared enough that we could play through it. Sanchez really stepped up when he took over the majority of our ball handling duties." Ulises Sanchez took over the point guard duties and Nellis rallied for their second big win against Yuma Marine Corps Air Station, Ariz., 113-83, during the two-day league series. "This is just the beginning for my guys," said Coach Wright. "I saw some things we can improve but 3-0 seems like a good start." The next game for the Nellis Basketball Team is Nov. 13, when they travel to Los Angeles for a rematch against Camp Pendleton. The team will play in the Staples Center as part of Military Appreciation Day festivities before the Los Angeles Clippers play the Toronto Raptors.
