Operations Group runs past Medical Group Published Feb. 25, 2009 By Walt Johnson CSMNG PETERSON AIR FORCE BASE, Colo. -- Sometimes all it takes for a team that needs a few wins is to get enough bodies to the Peterson Fitness Center. Sometimes not having enough bodies will lead to defeat. That was the case for the 21st Operations Group, Feb. 5, as they raced past the 21st Medical Group team, 45-37, in Over 30 league action. The Medical Group came into the game with two wins in the season and the Operations team came into the contest with double that amount - four wins. In the first half of the game, the teams were closer than the two win margin as the Medical Group rode the hot shooting of Larry Cantrell to a 20-19 halftime lead. Cantrell scored nine of his game high 14 points in the first half to offset the balanced scoring of the Operations team. The Operations team had six players who scored at least two points in the half led by Tom Clark who scored five points. It appeared it would be a close game throughout judging by the first half, but lack of bodies caught up with the Medical Group team, which was playing the game with five players. The Operations team knows first-hand what it is like to play a game with only five players, because that has been the case a lot for the team. Mission requirements mean the team cannot always count on having the nine players placed on the floor Feb. 5, which proved to be the difference in the game in the second half. Sensing the Medical Group team would tire after spending so much energy in the first half, the Operations team used its bench strength in the second half to secure a victory. The Operations team raced out to a six point lead with just over 13 minutes left in the game. The Medical Group team called a time out to regroup, but it did not help as the Operations team managed to increase the lead to as many as 10 points and cruised to an eight point win. After the game, Operations team coach, Scott Trinrud, explained how having the extra players on his bench made a big difference for his team. It felt better to be in a position to have substitutes than it does when his team has to play underhanded, he said. "We finally had enough people we could actually play well in the last five minutes of the game. We were so well rested that in the last five minutes of the game we were able to sizzle and get this victory," Trinrud said. Trinrud said when his team is at full capacity it can cause a number of problems for teams, because it can do the one thing that increases a team's chances to win. "When we get our people here, we have the kind of size that allows us to rebound well, and when we rebound well, we play well. One thing we know is, we will be a dangerous team in the playoffs because of our strength on the boards and teams should know we will be a team to be reckoned with," Trinrud said.