San Quentin News

Written By Incarcerated - Advancing Social Justice

Canceled All-Madden game turned into flag football scrimmage

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The All-Madden flag foot- ball 2018 season kick off with a scheduling conflict. When the outside team didn’t come in, the game turned into an All-Madden offense verses defense scrimmage. The offense scored six touchdowns — the defense had two interceptions and three sacks.

Once the many geese that claim San Quentin’s field were temporarily evicted and their droppings swept up, the ailing field was ready for testing. In anticipation, a wide variety of San Quentin residents, both young and old, crowed the sidelines.

Head referee James Ben- son was assisted by Aaron “Showtime” Taylor, T. Slaughter, and Wayne Mobley. The event involved the offensive testing its play- book against defensive alignments. The only way the defense could score would be to run back an interception.

Head Coach Royce Rose controlled the defense while Assistant Head Coach Dwight Kennedy directed the offense. Assistant Coach Ray Walker aided both coaches.

Multi-sports athlete Bran- don Riddle-Terrell manned the quarterback position. On the sixth play, he turned what appeared to be a busted play into a 37-yard touchdown run.

All-Madden’s defense stepped up five plays later when free safety Johnny Lee intercepted a Riddle-Terrell pass, returning it 18 yards.

With the offensive line of Jack Benford, Gary McDonald and Timothy Parker providing adequate protection, Riddle-Terrell went nuts, taking the offense on four consecutive scoring drives:

39 yard pass to D. Nickolson — touchdown

23 yard pass to Dontay Turner — touchdown

9 yard pass to D. Nickolson — touchdown

31 yard pass to Joseph Banuelso — touchdown

Either the defense was tired of getting scored on or perhaps the QB’s arm was sore. Shortly after the scoring barrage, linebacker Jaime Luis intercepted a Riddle-Terrell pass in the end zone.

The defense also consisted of Tyrrell. Price Sr., Hassan Halfin, Johnny Lee, Tadashi Sayers, Victor Veliz, Maurice Shillings, and Vincent Wilson.

Riddle-Terrell redeemed himself with a final touchdown pass for 11 yards that connected with Demetric Taylor in the back of the end zone.

The All-Madden running attack had limited success. Tailback Walter Cook had two nice runs, but all scores came via the pass except the one Riddle-Terrell took to the house. The last play of the scrimmage came when free-safety Johnny Lee, broke-up a likely touchdown pass in the end zone.

The scrimmage ended with smiles and high fives as both offense and defense felt ready for the upcoming competition.

Prison Sports Ministry PSM edges Hardtimers, 36-34

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Photo by Eddie Herena, SQN

Hardtimer Juan Navarro


On a picture-perfect Sept. 9 day, the Prison Sports Ministry (PSM) softball team finally got to celebrate a second victory by defeating the San Quentin Hardtimers, 36-34.
The Hardtimers had triumphed in five of the last six meetings.
“It was a great game, and it’s awesome to be here, but it’s nice to be on the other side of losing for a change,” Bryce of PSM said.
The game started in the bottom of the first inning when Hardtimer Richard Zorns knocked in teammate Ricky Romero to score the team’s first run.
In the second inning, PSM countered with back-to-back scoring plays.

PSM Sports Coordinator Don Smith was inspired by his team’s performance. “I’d like to finish up strong this time, but I just enjoy being on the yard visiting with my San Quentin friends.”

In the bottom of the second, PSM’s left fielder Paul missed an opportunity to catch a looping fly ball that allowed the Hardtimers to score two runs in the second inning. Hardtimers slugger Juan Navarro put his team back in the lead, 9-7, when he sent a ball to the wash with a roping homer over the laundry building.

“Play hard and earn scoring positions and try to hit another one,” Navarro said about staying in the game.
PSM left fielder Paul said, “I want to share the love of Christ but, to win we cannot quit. I respect the guys’ effort.”
When the PSM had their chance to strike back, Paul’s teammate, shortstop Zach hit a fly ball deep past left field that could have been an in- park homerun but he settled for a triple. “I should have kept running,” Zach said. “I wasn’t thinking.”

Zach confidently commented on his teammates’ past losses against the Hard- timers. “To win now, all we have to do now is not quit,” he said.

PSM’s defense struggled in the third inning, allowing the Hardtimers to score 11 runs. At the top of the fourth, the bases were loaded and Zach went to bat.
Veteran player Wayne Moe Mobley pitched for the Hardtimers. The pitch came down the pike, and Zach connected solidly and sent the ball deep to center right field for a PSM homerun. This time Zack ran hard—all the way home, giving them a2 0-18 lead in the fourth.
Both teams battled back and forth in the fifth and sixth innings. The Hardtimers were still down by a few runs until the bottom of the six.
In the bottom of the sixth, Hardtimer Navarro thrilled onlookers when he rocked an- other homer over the education building.
With a man on first and a man an at bat, the Hardtimers had a chance to make the game closer but, when Zach made a leaping catch at short stop and robbed RJ Hill of a hero moment that ended the frame. The Hardtimers defense came alive when Hill returned the favor to PSM’s offense by turning a double play to end the top of the seventh.

PSM pitcher Bryce intentionally walked Navarro to avoid giving him another chance to knock one out of the park.
Hardtimer Sharky hit a line drive past the PSM first baseman for a single. Hill followed with another. When No. 22, Dion DeMerrill, came to the plate, no one expected the inside-the-park home run he delivered to centerfield. He brought in a couple runs and the Hardtimers took the lead.

“I just wanted to show the team what I can do,” DeMerrill said. “I’m just happy to make surprises.”

He showed up at the right moment. The Hardtimers were in a good position to win the game, leading by four, 34- 30.
In the top of the ninth, PSM brought in three quick runs that left them down, 34-33.
PSM shortstop Zach hit a single that advanced a runner to second. Teammate Paul went up to bat and whacked in two RBIs. PSM’s star pitcher Bryce followed with a home-run that gave the PSM a 36- 34 lead.
In the bottom of the ninth with two outs, Hardtimer Jimmy Vue smacked a triple into the outfield, but he was left stranded on third when Hill hit a grounder and was thrown out to end the game.

PSM celebrated the much- needed win with prayer, solidifying their “Never give up” attitude with a display of hope and victory.

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Kings reign unseated by Outsiders basketball team

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Over the Labor Day weekend, several basketball players from different Prison Sports Ministry teams teamed up for a game against the San Quentin Kings and won 76-74.
“It was tough because everybody had to learn how to play with each other,” Outsider Sponsor John Brewster said. “We played as a team and it went pretty flawless.”
While most people were away celebrating Labor Day, eight basketball players— members of the Trailblazers, Green Team, Outsiders and Lincoln Hill—showed up on the Lower Yard to en- joy a game against the Kings 40-and-over team.
“I thank God for you sharing your light with us,” Kings assistant coach Ishmael Freelon told the visitors. “This is an outlet for us.”
The game was scrappy. Both teams tied at 19 to closeout the first quarter.

While the Kings got balanced scoring from an array of players, the Outsiders relied primarily on one baller: Dominique Thompson. He led all scorers with 34 points, 12 rebounds, seven steals and three assists. The tall slim man, who normally plays for Lincoln Hill, got most of his money in the painted area.
He wasn’t alone.
Chaze Russell, another Lincoln Hill player, tied the score at 34 with a three- pointer just as the ref blew his duck whistle, which signaled it was halftime.
The game came down to the final minutes. The Outsiders pulled ahead 70-62 after Russell nailed another three with 2:50 left in regulation.
The Kings came back. Jamal Harrison made a lay-up despite being fouled, but missed the free throw that followed.

With 30 seconds left, veteran King Oris “Pep” Williams rebounded the ball and put it through the rim to bring the Kings with- in three at 75- 72.

The Kings fouled Russell to stop the clock. He went to the free throw line and missed both.
King Tare “Cancun” Beltranchuc went to the rack and got fouled as he scored. He went to the line with Kings down one at 75-74 and missed the free throw that would have tied the game.

The ball bounced to the left and Thompson tried to grab it but Kings Center Jason Robinson slammed the ball out of bounds.

The ref ruled it Outsiders’ ball but the head ref overruled him. The Kings received the ball with 12 seconds on the clock and one more chance.
“I think we both hit the ball, but he had a fingernail on it more than me,” Thompson said.
The ball went to Beltranchuc and he took a short- range jumper that went in then bounced out of the rim.
Geoffrey “Free” Gary, who normally plays with the Trailblazers, grabbed the rebound.
“Refs still couldn’t give them the game,” Gary said.
The Kings fouled immediately. He made one of two free-throws and left the Kings with two seconds on the clock, down 76-74.
A desperate last second shot missed and the Outsiders got the win.
Beltranchuc, Harrison and Robinson scored 12 apiece for the Kings. Robinson also had 10 rebounds for a double-double. Beltranchuc added five steals, four assists and three rebounds while Harrison contributed six re- bounds, three steals and one assist. Williams, who is 59 years old, finished with 11 points, nine rebounds, seven assists and three steals.
“Pep (Williams) played big,” Gary said. “Robinson had some big rebounds and put backs.”
For the Outsiders, Gary dropped 16 points with 12 rebounds and Russell added 14 points, with four steals, four rebounds and an assist.
All involved showed they have game.
“It feels good playing with people my age; there’s unity in this,” King Harrison said. “It’s a good experience.”

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S.Q. Warriors take trophy back

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The San Quentin Warriors won again!
For the second straight year, the prison’s premiere basketball team beat the Golden State Warriors squad of staffers 93-85 in a community atmosphere that featured NBA-playoff intensity. The victory had particular significance for San Quentin power forward Harry “ATL” Smith, who paroled a few days after the game.

“All praise is due to God,” Smith said. “It’s bigger than basketball. This program has really been my family. When I get out, I plan to continue repping the Warriors and Jesus Christ.”
The annual games between Golden State (GS) staffers and San Quentin (SQ) started in 2012.
They match up incarcerated men against management, coaches and employees of the NBA champions.
The events unite affluent NBA executives—including Warriors’ assistant general manager Kirk Lacob, son of the team’s owner Joe Lacob—with incarcerated people, through their common love of basketball.
Golden State leads the series four games to three; however, SQ has won two straight since Rafael Cuevas went from point guard to coach. His motto: character comes first, talent second.
“We’re not on this team for nothing,” SQ King Jason Robinson, who suited up with the SQ Warriors, said. “We proved we’re worthy to play with people from the outside and show what community is all about.”
For the Sept. 5 game, Lacob showed up with a team that included Nick Kerr (son of Golden State Coach Steve Kerr), Kent Lacob, Assistant Coach Chris DeMarco and others. First-round draft pick Jacob Evans, a former Cincinnati Bearcat, came for moral support, as signed players are not allowed to play.

The Golden State staffer squad was loaded, but it was missing its leading scorer and rebounder, Bob Myers, two-time NBA General Manager of the Year. Myers usually shows up and shows out but injuries caused him to miss the event.
“Bob had hip surgery,” Lacob said. “He had the operation in May and trained hard so he could rehab in time to be here, but he over-did it.”
Evans, the draftee, came along to see how good the SQ team is and to bring happiness to the incarcerated population.
“I feel like everybody deserves a second chance,” Evans said. “You never know what somebody’s situation is, so it’s important to show that you care.”
The day had a festive atmosphere, starting pregame when SQ resident Philippe Kelly rapped “The San Quentin Warriors Song.”
Then, under an overcast sky, hundreds of fans surrounded the basketball court on the yard as Aaron “Showtime” Taylor announced the starting five for GS, then for SQ.
GS scored first. Chris DeMarco received a pass inside and made a lay-up.
SQ’s Anthony “Half-Man, Half-Amazing” Ammons responded with one-and-one.

First year SQ Warrior Delvon Adams, who started at point guard, followed with a lay-up inside.
A determined Lacob tried to snatch a rebound out of the hands of SQ vet Allan McIntosh. The refs called a jump ball.
Taylor, SQ’s play-by-play announcer, had some fun with Lacob’s aggressive play. “Kirk ran up on him like he wasn’t scared he’s in a prison,” Taylor said.
At the end of the first quarter, SQ’s Tyrrell “City Life” Price Sr. made a three-pointer at the buzzer for a 29-18 lead.
“We’re only down 11; we’re good,” Evans said.
In the second quarter, Kerr, who played for the University of San Diego, came off the bench and helped get GS back into the game, nailing a trey from the corner to bring GS within five at 31-26.
Prison Sports Ministry sponsor Patrick Lacey, who suited up with GS, made an and-one with three SQ players surrounding him to bring GS within two points with 1:48 left in the half.
The half ended with SQ up by a thread, 46-45.
Aaron Miles, coach of the Warriors’ Santa Cruz G-League team, spoke at halftime. Miles, now 35 years old, was the all-time leader in assists in the Big 12 while playing for the University of Kansas. He went on to play for Golden State in 2005, and then played professionally overseas. At the annual game, he coached GS.
“I had a brother who was locked up and I questioned what he would do when he got out,” Miles said. “Now he’s ministering, going to school and doing the right thing. There is something special meant for you when you get out.”
Harry “ATL” Smith spoke at halftime as well, saying that at college, basketball was a business that used him up. The school didn’t care about his grades, only that he could ball. At San Quentin, he found a team focused on character.
That philosophy served him well. For Smith, a tryout for the Santa Cruz Warriors awaited his release.
“ATL is strong physically,” Miles said. “More than anything, I like his character. I’m excited for him to go out there and make a life for himself, to have success at whatever he does.”
As the halftime show, SQ residents David Jassy, a Grammy nominated rapper and producer from Sweden, and Joshua Burton performed an original rap song called “I’m a Champion.”
“No matter what happens today, I’m not quitting, I’m a champion,”Jassy rapped.
The home team kept the intensity up in the third quarter, which ended with SQ up 65-58.
Antwan “Banks” Williams, the sound designer for hit podcast Ear Hustle, performed another rap song between quarters.
In the fourth, Kerr made a series of shots that brought GS to within one point at 71-70 with 7:45 left. First he got fouled from behind the arc and made two of three free throws. Then he made five more points scored.

Smith answered with a hook shot in traffic and SQ’s Dejon Joy added another basket to pull away again.
“Delvon and Dejon played big in this game,” Cuevas said. “They were great mid-season additions who came and dedicated themselves.”
GS’s David “Just Dave” Fatoki stepped up. The 25-year-old from St. Louis played for the University of Washington and pro overseas in Spain. Now he works for GS basketball operations.
With six minutes left and his team down six, Fatoki made a three that made the score 76-73.
But Ammons answered with a runner in the paint, and shortly after that, Joy made an up and under scoop shot over Fatoki.
Smith fouled out with 1:45 left in the game. The crowd applauded.
Fatoki fouled out on the next play and Lacey shortly after as SQ continued to increase its lead.
With SQ up 93-85 and timing running out, DeMarco made a three-pointer too late to count. He led GS with 33 points, 14 rebounds and five fouls. Kerr added 23 and Fatoki 13.
“They attack the basket so much,” DeMarco said.”It’s hard not to foul.” Ammons led SQ with 17 points. Smith added 16 and McIntosh 14.
For the second year in a row, the San Quentin Warriors posed with the NBA trophy in front of a banner that saluted the NBA champions, designed by SQ artist Bruce Fowler.
“It’s surreal,” SQ guard Jesse Blue said. “It’s like finally arriving to some degree. It’s like showing the world we can actually play.”
Kirk Lacob and Miles reported to center court to pay off the pushup bets they lost.
Lacob jokingly blamed the Larry O’Brien Trophy for the defeat.
“We lose every time we bring it in,” Lacob said. “Maybe we should leave it here.”

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SQ Warriors team up on Imago for 98-84 win

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People on the sidelines often criticize San Quentin Warriors head coach Rafael Cuevas, but his team played like a well-oiled machine in a 98-84 victory over the visiting Imago Dei basketball squad.

“When Bear told me I was going to get this job, I really didn’t know what that meant,” Cuevas, who played point guard under former Warriors coach Daniel “Bear” Wright, said. “This whole prison wants me to win every game.”
The victory improved the Warriors’ record to 8 wins and 8 losses in a season with more roster changes than a county jail.
Cuevas believes that what happens on Saturdays between visiting community members and incarcerated folks on the court is bigger than basketball. He includes as many players as possible in the opportunity to meet outside people, develop social skills and the bonds that happen through the Prison Sports Ministry program.
For the Aug. 26 game against Imago Dei, two new players suited up: Maurice Shillings and Chris “TC” Parker, which made 15 Warriors that played against six Imago Dei players. Some on the yard believe Cuevas should focus on winning by playing the best 12.
“You have 3,000 people whose basketball theories don’t necessarily align with mine,” Cuevas said.
The Warriors struggled with Imago this year, going 1-3 against them. In a previous game, Imago Brett “BC” Collins went unstopped, scoring 34 points with 13 rebounds.
Collins, who at 6 foot 4 inches and 240 pounds is built like a statue of a Greek god and jumps like “Birdman” Anderson, played for St. Mary’s in his college days. For this game, the Warriors double and triple teamed every time he received the ball in the paint. They held him to 10 points, nine rebounds, three blocks and two steals.
“We kept on boxing him out, keeping him off the boards,” Harry “ATL” Smith, the Warriors’ premier center who used to play for San Francisco State, said. “I respect his game—he’s a beast. We practiced for him all week.”
In the first quarter, Warriors forward Anthony “Half-man, Half-Amazing” Ammons, a lefty known for getting to the rack and rebounding, shocked Imago Dei when he nailed two jumpers.
“When did you develop a jump shot?” Imago sponsor Tony Thomas asked Ammons.
Ammons played weeks of one-on-one games where he focused on his jump shot instead of his strengths.
“I was feeling good today,” Ammons said. “My team trusted me with the ball and coach said ‘Shoot the jumper.’”
Imago Dei’s Teohn Conner responded to the Warriors’ intensity. Conner, who played for several ABA Bay Area basketball teams and trains kids to play b-ball for a living, has dropped over 30 points in all three games he played at San Quentin, including this game. He scored 31 with eight rebounds, two assists and three steals.
The first quarter ended with the score tied at 27 but after the second quarter, the Warriors were up 59-45.
“We put our differences aside for a common goal,” Ammons said. “We played a complete game together.”
At halftime, Thomas gave a short talk about how well Danny Cox, a former San Quentin resident and Warrior, is doing in society.
“Danny is living an awesome life on the outside because he put his faith in the Lord,” Thomas said. “There’s a peace that comes with trusting the Lord no matter what.”
Warriors’ veteran shooting guard Allan McIntosh shared his story. He was sentenced to life under the three-strikes law for possession of a firearm and has been incarcerated 21 years.
“I walked off these 21 years because of God,” McIntosh said. “I don’t stress anymore. My time will come when God’s ready for me.”
In the third quarter, the Warriors continued to dominate. Smith increased the lead to 67-52 when he stole the ball and went coast-to-coast for the uncontested dunk. The third quarter ended with the Warriors up 79-62.
In the fourth quarter, Imago made a push. Conner sat on the bench resting a sore ankle, while his team got to within 9 after Jon Williams, who played for New Mexico in his college days, made a behind-the-back pass in the paint to teammate Tre Maudlin. Maudlin completed the play with a layup that made the score 88-79 with 3:39 left in regulation.
Conner went back in the game and made an And-one play. With 2 minutes and 50 seconds on the clock, Imago was down six points, at 88-82.
With 1:37 on the clock, Imago fouled Montrell “Mad Defense” Vines to stop the clock with the score at 90-84. Vines missed both free-throws, but Ammons snatched the rebound.
Warriors shooting guard Jessie “JD” Frazee ended Imago’s chances of a comeback by scoring 8 points in the final 1:30. He made four clutch free throws, hit a short-range jumper and made a layup.
“We had a chance,” Maudlin said. “The Warriors hit a lot of tough shots.”
Maudlin finished with 27 points, including five three-pointers, living up to his name Tre.
Frazee dropped 10 points, making the fifth Warriors to score in the double digits. Smith led the Warriors with 18, followed by Ammons with 16, Delvon Adams with 14 and McIntosh with 12 points.
“I know I have to show up—if I don’t show up, we don’t win,” Smith said. “Going forward, this is a big momentum game. San Quentin will beat Golden State [WARRIORS] by five.”
He was only three points off. San Quentin won 93-85 Sept. 5.

PPI’s “Correctional Control: Incarceration and Supervision by State” is the first report to aggregate data on all types of correctional control nationwide.

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SQ Hardtimers over Prison Sports Ministry, 25-22

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In a close match, the San Quentin Hardtimers beat the Prison Sports Ministry softball team in a nine-inning game, 25- 22.
The last time Prison Sports Ministry (PSM) players tested their faith on the San Quentin softball field, they came up short. The Hardtimers won by a large margin.
PSM right fielder Bryce cleared his August schedule so he could come get revenge. In this rematch, faith in a new strategy brought them closer to a victory.
Catcher David A. and center Dan of PSM both believed that they knew what to do to improve their chance for this game.
“If we’re more patient, try not to walk players and not swing at the first pitch, we might beat these guys,” David A. said.
The PSM defense gave them hope.
Through whirlwinds of dust and changing wind patterns, PSM left fielder Paul robbed Hardtimers center fielder Kennith Lewis of a double with a spectacular catch of a fly ball, despite the conditions. Then he gunned out Hardtimer R.J. Hill at second, which ended the third inning.
Hardtimers led PSM 10-8.
By the seventh inning, Bryce’s hopes were high. Teammate Jeff loaded the bases with two runs batted in. Danny A. also brought in two runs, and Bryce tagged up on third, then ran home, which gave PSM the lead for the first time of the game at 17-15.
Left-handed batters took advantage of the Hardtimers’ right field with double and single shots for RBIs. Third baseman Brandon smacked the ball over the fence for a homerun to increase the lead to 22-15 in the top of the eighth. The PSM bench erupted in excitement.
“I have been trying to get an over-the-fence homerun since the last time we played here,” Brandon said.
Hardtimers coach Doug rallied his team with some encouraging words that inspired them not to give up.
In the ninth inning, the Hardtimers came back. With the bases loaded, newcomer Hardtimer third baseman Juan Navarro hit a fastball over the fence that nearly knocked on the annex education building door. That tied the game 22–all at the bottom of the ninth.
With two runners on base, Helder Alvernaz secured the victory with a line drive past the shortstop that brought in the winning runs.
“I love how the outside people come in,” Alvernaz. “It’s not all about winning. Them coming in helps me keep a positive outlook behind these walls.”
New Hardtimer Juan Navarro appreciates how they call him by his name. He says it makes him feel like a human being instead of an inmate. He says he loves that all races come together and play the game, and how the outside people bring their freedom inside to him. Both men believe that being able to play the game will keep them out of trouble.

PPI’s “Correctional Control: Incarceration and Supervision by State” is the first report to aggregate data on all types of correctional control nationwide.


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Hardtimers softball team rallies over Prison Sports Ministry

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Hardtimer RJ Hill

The Prison Sports Ministry softball team jumped out to an early lead but the San Quentin Hard Timers rallied back to win 18 to 11.

In the 1st inning of the June 17 game, Prison Sports Ministry took a 5 to 3 lead.

Three year veteran Tyler Moore of the Ministry tried to repeat a deep hit to center field he made last month on the same diamond.

“I was trying to repeat that this game,” he said. “ It’s not just the competition of the game, it’s the fun. This is the most fun of any softball league I ever done, coming up here to San Quentin.”

The Prison Sports Ministry team comes to San Quentin to play softball with the incarcerated men and have fun, but its true purpose is to share and inspire hope.

More than a third of millennials say that if a man compliments a woman’s looks it is harassment, according to a recent survey by The Economist/YouGov reports The New York Times 1-17-18.

I just wanted to share the good news to the guys,” David A. said.

The Hard Timers team started receiving good news by the 3rd inning when their offense started picking the Ministry’s defense apart. One player hit a triple to score a man in and several other team members followed suit with multiple runs batted in.

Both teams defense prevented any scores during the 5th and 6th innings.

RJ Hill of the Hard Timers stopped a flaming hit to second with a dramatic diving catch.

“We started off sluggish…” he explained, “and our pitching was off, but, we picked up and flowed. I got that hot hit to second and I knew I had to lay it down to get that out to end the inning.”

In the 8th inning, Ministry new comer Branden Vanvliet smacked an in the park homerun but, it wasn’t enough.

“Their game is just better than I thought,” Vanvliet said. “But these guys are easy to get along with and I’m looking forward to coming back. I hope I made a good impression on the guys and showed them God’s love.” 

The score was 18 to 11 in the 8th inning and the Prison Sports Ministry knew that it would take more than a miracle for them to come back from such a large deficit.

Ministry’s Bryce Warwick, another new comer, said he wasn’t trying to make any bad plays but the Hard Timers defense was just performing well.

“There’s a lot of great guys with good attitudes here and I definitely look forward to coming back and I’m a try to influence a couple more guys from the outside to come back in with me,” Warwick said.

Hardtimer third basemen Juan Arballo caught a  line drive that hit the glove with a smack.

“I usually catch between my thumb and pouch of my glove but this time I caught it with just the pouch, and it hit hard,” Arballo explained. “It felt like self-defense.”

The game ended with the Hard Timers up seven runs.

Arballo laughed as he continued, “I consider it a blessing here at San Quentin to have the privilege to play against outside volunteers who give their time to come play us.”

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New volunteers to referee games but still face the same complaints

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Veteran ref Robert Lee in 2017 advising the old referee crew Willie “Butch” Thompson and Ishmael Freelon

Veteran ref Robert Lee in 2017 advising the old referee crew Willie “Butch” Thompson and Ishmael Freelon

A new cast volunteered to take on one of the toughest jobs at San Quentin—refereeing basketball games.

“It’s challenging,” Antonio Manning, new ref and former SQ King, said about refereeing. “You have to deal with different attitudes and personalities.”

“if y’all think I did it…just give me a lawyer, dawg, ‘cause this is not what’s up.”  Warren Demesme said during police questioning.  The Louisiana Supreme Court held that this reference was too ambiguous to count as a request for counsel.  REASON Magazine, January 2018

Veteran ref Robert Lee, 62, added, “It’s the hardest job on the yard. With every call, 50 people are going to hate it, and 50 people are going to like it.”

Complaints about the officiating at San Quentin have persisted for years. As the head ref, Aaron “Showtime” Taylor, is out to change that with a mostly new eight-man squad and new system.

Taylor’s system involves the refs rotating so one of them is always in the best position to see the action.

Despite the difficulty of being second-guessed and heckled, these men still want to be referees.

“After playing for five years as a King, I look at it as what more can I contribute?” Manning said. “As a ref, I can bring more control and add to the community here. Also, I see myself doing this out in the community as well.”

New ref Troy Smith added, “I don’t need to be a ref and didn’t want to, but I was asked so I agreed. I love sports, and I don’t internalize the calamity.”

Lee said, “I want to stay involved with the game I love but can’t play anymore. Also I want to stay connected to this community of inside and outside people like Bill Epling and Bob Myers.”

Epling sponsors Prison Sports Ministry, which brings members of the community into the prison for basketball games and ministry. This includes Myers, the general manager of the Golden State Warriors.

Three new refs got their first test on March 24. Manning, Anthony Thomas and Wayne “Tariq” Mobley coached the Kings season opener.

Throughout the game, the refs stayed professional as the complaints stacked up.

“We need Butch and Huggie back!” a King joked about wanting the old referees return.

“All three out of bounds calls were wrong,” Trailblazer Steve Lamb said.

“You got to be kidding me, yo!” Trailblazer Geoffrey “Free” Gary yelled after, while he was shooting, a King made contact, and there was no call.

The referees mistakenly sent a King to the free-throw line. After a ref timeout, Oris “Pep” Williams took the ball and went to the free-throw line. The refs believed he was owed two free throws and allowed him to shoot them. Williams said he missed both on purpose.

Lee said, “They’re new. Give them a chance.”

https://sanquentinnews.com/optionb-org-support-group-overcoming-effects-incarceration/

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Former professional basketball player drops 50 points

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Prison Sports Ministry (“Green Team”) overcame the San Quentin Warriors’ surging fourth-quarter comeback and a head referee overturning a foul call to win in double overtime, 90-82. Dan Wohl, a former overseas pro, led the “Green Team” with a career high of 50 points.

“I don’t think I’ve ever scored 50 anywhere,” Wohl said. He also had 10 rebounds.

He added that his average was 20 points a game playing for Williams College in Massachusetts and about 7 playing pro in Israel.

For the last game of the San Quentin basketball program season, The Green Team showed up with another new ringer — Seth Tarver, who played for Oregon State and an NBA D-League team called the Idaho Stampede. The game also marked the return of point guard Remy Pinson — who handles the basketball like Steph Curry — and Antoine Maddox, a former Washington General, among others.

The Warriors went with a starting lineup that didn’t include its leading scorer, Allan McIntosh. He came off the bench.

Harry “ATL” Smith, a powerhouse in the paint, didn’t make it to the game.

Both Tarver and Wohl, playing for the first time on a prison yard surrounded by incarcerated faces and barbed wire, missed their first three shots. But they came to life and started torching the Warriors. Tarver also dominated on the boards, finishing with 17 rebounds along with 23 points.

By the end of the third quarter, the Warriors were down 48-36. But they came charging back. Tevin Fournette and Tyrrell Price Sr. scored back-to-back buckets that brought their team within 5 with three minutes and 38 seconds left in the fourth. McIntosh followed with a spin move for a deuce inside.

With 24 seconds left and the score 66-62, Jason “Boo” Robinson rebounded his own miss and scored to bring the Warriors within 2 points. He finished with 8 points and 14 rebounds.

Warrior point guard David Lee tied the score at 66 with a drive to the rack, leaving four seconds on the clock.

The inbound pass went to Tarver.

He had the ball just inside the 3-point line with a defender all over him as referee J. “Huggie” Davis called a foul with1 second left on the clock.

Tarver headed for the free-throw line for two free shots at winning the game for the Green Team just as head Ref Robert Lee overruled the call and the timekeeper to send the game into overtime.

“Referees don’t decide games,” Lee told the scorekeepers who argued the call.

In the first overtime, McIntosh immediately hit a 3 to give the Warriors the lead. But two steals by Green Team player Charles Lowery brought the Green Team back, capped off with a dunk by Wohl on a fast break, for a 75-73 lead.

McIntosh tied the score at 75-75.

When neither team scored in the last 41 seconds, the game went into another extra period.

Pinson swung the momentum with an alley-oop pass to Harry Webb, who caught the ball in the air and laid it up. That key basket made Webb’s only points in the game although he started.

Wohl followed with a steal and the basket, followed by two 3-pointers for a total of eight straight points. The Green Team coasted through the rest of the second OT while the Warriors took three minutes to score their first basket.

Fournette led the Warriors with 23 points, 9 rebounds, 3 steals and 2 assists.

Pinson had 10 points, 4 assists and 7 steals.

At the end of the game, the Warriors’ general manager, Robert “Bishop” Butler, was honored. He was found suitable for parole on Nov. 16, after serving 23 years.

“I won’t remember what this court is like without Bishop,” Green Team sponsor Don Smith told the players at the end of the game.

Smith has ministered and interacted with Butler at San Quentin for more than a decade.

“As we congratulate Bishop, may God bless you all with hope,” Smith said.

Green Teamer Lowery spoke about the power of basketball in making connections. It starts with one guy shooting around, then another person comes and starts shooting. Then more people come and a game starts and bonds form.

“It helps us connect; it saved me. It kept me out of trouble — this basketball, it’s like a spiritual journey,” Lowery said. “Don’t be alone in your spiritual journey; be with people going through what you’re going through.”

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http://sanquentinnews.com/valley-boys-teach-warriors-guide-loss-power/

San Quentin Warriors victory over Golden State

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The Golden State (GS) Warriors are national champions, but after their sixth annual road game behind the walls of San Quentin State Prison. They lost 103-102 despite Bob Myers’ 32 points and 31 rebounds performance. The “home team” celebrated the victory by poses with the 2017 NBA Championship trophy.

“They earned the win; they out-played us,” said Myers, the NBA Executive of the Year, for the second time. “It was very fun … Everyone was great except the dude who guarded me today.”

Even before the arrival of the GS team, 31-year-old Cornell “The Fatality” Shields looked determined. While he prepared to play against NBA royalty for the first time, a funeral home in Oakland prepared Brenda Jackson, his mother who was 52 years old, for burial. Dubbed “The Fatality” for what he does on the basketball court, he planned to win and dedicate the win to his mother.

“She made me focus — her, my wife and my son,” Shields said.

Meanwhile, at the entry to the prison, ABC Sports Commentator Larry Beil was the first to walk through the gates. Seconds later, Myers, general manager of the Golden State Warriors, led his team of GS coaches and staff, including Assistant GM Kirk Lacob and GM of the Santa Cruz D-League Warriors Kent Lacob; scout Khalid Robinson, and Player Development Coach Luke Loucks, among others. Myers carried the Larry O’Brien Trophy.

Warrior tryouts Antonius “AC” Cleveland from Missouri State and Georges Niang from Iowa State came for moral support and to experience San Quentin.

Golden State Center Javale McGee entered the prison last. Myers passed the trophy to McGee, who carried it down to the San Quentin Lower Yard.

“They asked if I wanted to go to San Quentin, and I said yes,” McGee said, as if carrying the Larry O’Brien Trophy into a prison happened everyday.

Harry "ATL" Smith jamming on a fast break

Harry “ATL” Smith jamming on a fast break

More than a dozen incarcerated fans surrounded the Golden State squad as they headed for San Quentin’s green-blue outdoor basketball court.

Key players were noticeably missing from both teams. GS assistant coach and former 76er Willie Green, who scored 18 in last year’s game, went to represent Golden State at a hurricane pet rescue event. Chris DeMarco, who averages 20 points per game at Quentin, stayed out due to an injury. The SQ squad also played without starter Tevin Fournette (injured) and Anthony “Half Man, Half Amazing” Ammons (out to court).

“Tevin and Ant are very key players,” Allan McIntosh, SQ’s leading scorer, said. “Without them, we knew it was gonna be a struggle and that we needed to play as a unit.”

A huge banner — “SQ Dub Luv, Congratulations Warriors NBA 2017 Champions” — created by Bruce Fowler hung on the fence behind the guest bench.

“The whole idea is for SQ sports to show thanks to the organization for all the work they’ve done for us,” said James Benson, who organized the making of the banner. “We donated it to Golden State so they could have people bid on it and donate the money to Irma relief.”

After intros, Prison Sports Ministry’s Bill Epling, whose web of connections helped make the annual games happen, opened with a prayer for the hurricane victims.

Then the game started with the opening tip going to SQ’s McIntosh who, like all his teammates, wore real NBA Warriors jerseys donated by their namesakes across the Bay.

Myers, who wore a Prison Sports Ministry’s plain green jersey, started off with two turnovers against SQ’s rotating trap defense, implemented by first-year coach and former point guard Rafael Cuevas. First Myers lost the ball to Jason Jones and got blocked by Brad Shells, who also scored SQ’s first basket and went on to drop 12 with nine rebounds and four blocks.

Robinson answered for GS as Beil joined SQ play-by-play announcers Aaron “Showtime” Taylor and Damon L. Cooke.

As SQ’s leading scorer Allan McIntosh spun inside for a layup on Kirk, the referee blew his duck whistle. Kirk threw up his hands and shook his head at the call.

“Kirk ain’t foul,” Taylor joked. “I’ve seen prison fights harder than that.”

Beil responded with a laugh: “I thought we were playing by prison rules!”

SQ continued to play great defense but failed to convert. They ended up behind 23-13. Then Shields stepped up, going hard to the rack and scoring 4 unanswered points.

By the end of the first quarter, GS held a 25-21 lead, scored mostly by Robinson, who scored 10 to Shields’ 7 in the quarter.

MaGee joined in the play-by-play antics in Beil’s place just in time for a front row seat as SQ’s Phillippe Kelly performed a rap he wrote that morning about San Quentin’s team beating Golden State. Incarcerated people watched Kelly’s rap on ABC the next day from their cells.

The lead went back and forth until tied at 48 by halftime.

Santa Cruz Warriors GM Kent Lacob making a lay-upas

Santa Cruz Warriors GM Kent Lacob making a lay-upas

The SQ squad huddled around Coach Cuevas, and he told them, “Keep running them. We’re gonna win.”

Then fans and players alike circled around half-court SQ’s Brian Asey, who introduced Myers.

The Golden State GM, who went to UCLA, gave a brief speech about how years ago, coming from a place of privilege, he was a little scared to enter a prison, but he had misjudged.

“If a lot of you guys had a chance, you’d be the GM of the Warriors,” Myers said. “I’ve never been better than anybody, and I’ve never been worse than anybody.”

As the second half started, McGee went to play chess, and Beil retook the guest play-by-play announcer seat.

McGee, checkmated twice, went to try his hand at dominos. He won the first game then lost three straight.

“This was a new experience, I got a chance to play someone of his caliber and manhandled him,” joked Tofa Sekona, who played McGee in chess. “I got autographs to share with my children. This truly helps us psychologically.”

Andre "NBA" Belion, David Lee and SQ Warriors coach Rafael Cuevas

Andre “NBA” Belion, David Lee and SQ Warriors coach Rafael Cuevas

GS General Counsel David “Cap D” Kelly performed a half-time rap called “No Doubt.”

In the third quarter, SQ fell behind 61-52 but charged back. Shells blocked Myers and Harry “ATL” Smith scored five points straight from the line and the field, narrowing the gap, 61-57.

“And he’s wearing number 7,” Beil commentated.

Then came SQ Andre “NBA” Belion. He nailed a three-pointer and yelled, “Ahhhhhh.”

On the next unanswered possession Belion hit a floater, giving SQ the lead back at 62-61.

In the fourth quarter, Smith gave SQ a three point lead with a break-away dunk and six minutes left.

Guard Joshua Burton followed with a three-pointer. The game came down to the final seconds and a ref’s call.

Smith made two free throws to put SQ up 101-96 with 40 seconds left.

Robinson answered with a three-pointer, cutting the deficit to 101-99.

Then Robinson ended up with the ball again after a SQ turnover. He launched a three from the right-hand corner that missed, but the ref called a foul on Shields.

“He bumped him on the way by as the shooter came down, knocking him to the ground,” said ref Ishmael Freelon.

Robinson nailed all three free throws, which added up to his 28 point and put GS up 102-101 with 15 seconds.

The ball went to Shields who went strong to the rack and scored, putting SQ up 103-102 but leaving 7sevenseconds for GS to responded.

Myers tried to spin away from a defender, but he turned right toward Shields who wrapped his arms around the ball and tried to wrestle it from Myers as time ran out.

The crowd ignited.

Kirk Lacob said, “We had it. They made a great play. That dude (Shields) was MVP.”

Shields, who scored 19 points with 9 rebounds, said, “It was liberating. It was a lot of fun because we played all around team ball — we were a unit.”

Then, with a sad smile on his face, he dedicated the win to his mother.

McGee said, “This was dope, I don’t know what I will take away from this event. I’m not a psychic, but I know it will be positive.”

Golden State try-outs Georges Niang, Antonius Cleveland with Kirk Lacob

Golden State try-outs Georges Niang, Antonius Cleveland with Kirk Lacob

Cuevas said, “I don’t think there is a guy we can take out of the equation and still get that win. I can’t think of a player who didn’t have a big play. I think we won as a team.”

Public Information Officer Lt. Sam Robinson noted, “They (SQ) had a good strategy — rotating all those bodies.”

After the game, Kent Lacob told Smith, “The Phenom,” he could try out for the Santa Cruz Warriors when he paroles next March.

“All glory to God,” Smith, who scored 20 points with 15 rebounds, said. “All the trials and tribulations we went through during the season paid off.”

Beil said, “This is no different from any game out in the neighborhood.”

There was one difference: The SQ squad held Golden State’s 2017 NBA Championship Larry O’Brien Trophy while they celebrated and posed for ESPN, Life of the Law, SQ News, The Athletic, San Francisco Chronicle and ABC photographers.

—Marcus Henderson contributed to this story.

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