Story and photo by

Randy Dela Cruz
Contributing Writer

SEAL Delivery Vehicle Team One (SDVT-1) burst out of the gates with an 11-0 lead and controlled the tempo for the rest of the game to defeat the "B" team from Navy Information Operations Command Hawaii (NIOC), 49-32, in an Ashore Intramural League basketball game at Naval Station Gym, Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam, on March 1.

The SEALS improved their record to 2-3, while NIOC "B" dropped to 1-4 in league play.

Master-at-Arms 2nd Class William Francia helped SDVT-1 get out to the early lead by scoring seven points in the game's first three minutes.

Francia, who dialed up two of the team's four three-point bombs, was one of two players to score in double figures for SDVT-1.

He stated that the team's fast start was crucial for its success against a very scrappy NIOC squad.

"We got to start quickly in every game because if we don't, we're going to get down on ourselves," said Francia, who tallied 11 points. "We're still a brand new team so we're trying to make sure that everyone gets into the flow of the game."

Although SDVT-1 finished the first period with its 11-point advantage intact, NIOC, led by Information Systems Technician 3rd Class Zachery Hereford's seven points, made a run in the second period to pull to within 23-17 at the half.

However, SDVT-1 rattled off 11 straight points to open the third period before taking a 37-27 lead into the final eight minutes of play.

In the third, Yeoman 2nd Class Clinton Miller stepped up to pump in eight points and help SDVT-1 pull away from NIOC. Miller finished with a game-high 18 points on nine field goals.

"One of the keys to our success is that we push the ball," noted Miller. "In the second quarter, we stopped doing that. So at halftime, we said that we were going to go back to being aggressive, control the tempo and wear them (NIOC) down."

By the fourth period, the strategy took its toll on NIOC as SDVT-1 held its foe to only five points, which all came within the game's final 20 seconds.

NIOC's first basket of the fourth came on a three-point shot from Hereford with only 19 ticks on the clock. Hereford led NIOC with 13 points and was followed by teammate Cryptologic Technician (Maintenance) 2nd Class Blake Phelps, who chipped in with 10 points.

"We only had five people today," explained Phelps about the team's shooting woes. "A lot of our guys deployed this week so we didn't have the bodies."

Miller pointed out that in addition to being more aggressive, SDVT-1 also used its height advantage to control the boards and dominate action under the basket.

The twin-tower tandem of Miller, who stands 6 feet 4 inches tall, and teammate 6-foot-5-inch Machinist's Mate 2nd Class James Kuechmann secured numerous second shot opportunities for SDVT-1 and intimidated NIOC shooters inside the paint.

"We had a distinct height advantage so that always helps," said Miller. "We extended our two-three (zone) defense to the perimeter, but I think, in the fourth quarter, when we knew it was time to put the hammer down, we did."

Although SDVT-1 started off the season with back-to-back defeats, Miller stated he believes that the team may have finally turned the corner.

He said that the starting five is beginning to come together as a team, but admits that SDVT-1's bench may hold the key to its success in the future.

Against NIOC, SDVT-1's starters accounted for 38 of the team's final 49 points.

"We got the butterflies out of the way the first two games," said Miller. "But I think that we need to improve our bench. We need to make sure that when they (reserves) come in the game, those guys are able to keep the intensity level up."