SSI caps comeback season with playoff win              Chris Rasmussen      Leader Staff

The Soldier Support Institute’s basketball team is having a Cinderella season with no pumpkin in sight. Starting the season  0-8, the team captured the third-seed in the playoffs, and now has won its first postseason game, a 53-46 victory over the 245th Air Traffic Control Squadron Monday at Coleman Gym. “People had counted us out. Even our own unit counted us out,” forward Rosella Scott said. “Our defense has taken us further than we expected.” SSI jumped to an early 15-10 lead in the first half, running the court and posting up for quick shots. The team increased its lead to 21-12, thanks to solid rebounding and some cold shooting by the 245th. The 245th Swampfoxes appeared to regroup following a timeout late in the first half, trailing, 25-24, at the intermission. After the break, the Swampfoxes took its first lead, 28-27, with 19:40 left to play. SSI refused to relent and traded baskets with the 245th for most of the second half. With time running out, SSI put up three, 3-point shots and pulled ahead, 46-40, with 1:49 left, and forcing the 245th to foul. “They have some really good shooters on that team and we just couldn’t cover them,” coach Thomas Arthur said. “Our biggest challenge is we don’t have a deep bench. We usually have one or two extra guys, if we are lucky.” Scott led SSI in scoring with 29 points, followed by Johnny Woods with 11 points and Arthur Mohead added six points. Chris Spotts led the 245th with 20 points, Mike Irick had 15 points and Brandon Hudson added 12 points to the effort. “I like the direction of our team right now going into the playoff,” Scott said. “After a poor start we are starting to gel and get a good feeling for how we play together.” The season-ending game for the Swampfoxes is hopefully just a road to a new beginning, Arthur said. “We have a pretty good group of guys, but we just haven’t played together very much,” he said. “Next year we will be back.” Twelve company-level teams began tournament play on Monday, in which 1-13 beat the MPs, 98-47; VSB defeated 187th, 43-40; and 120th beat 3-13, 47-42. On Tuesday, SSI beat 1-13, 52-37 and 120th defeated VSB, 45-40. SSI was slated to play 120th 7 p.m., Wednesday at Vanguard Gym.  The winner of that game will play the winner from the loser’s bracket during the championship game 7 p.m., Monday at Coleman Gym. Chris.Rasmussen@us.army.mil