“Take something you love to do and do it for the lord,” said Bill Epling, sponsor for Christian Sport Ministries, who brings people in to play basketball against the Warriors.
Christian Ministries use highly talented players and sports to spread God’s word to the residents of San Quentin State Prison, said Epling.
Don Smith and Bill Epling bring in teams to San Quentin to play basketball, softball and football.
The talent level makes for great games that attract large crowds. Each game begins and ends with prayer, including a half time one as well. Epling usually opens with jokes, like the one about God not being able to sue the Devil because he can’t find a lawyer in heaven. Smith takes turns with his players to open with stories about faith.
At an Aug. 17 game, Ministries point guard Tyson performed a half-time rap-song about the consequence of living that gangster life at the cost of incarceration and leaving kids to grow up without their father.
Smith started coming into San Quentin 16 years ago.
“God put it in my heart that this is a good place to do ministry. It’s a great thing for all the guys and we’ve become friends and like family,” said Smith.
“They are two extraordinary individuals. It’s unbelievable what they do for us. said Warriors Coach Daniel Wright, about Smith and Epling. “Bill gives us all new tennis shoes and had the basketball court repaved. He’s one of the best men I’ve ever met. I love Don and Bill like my dad.”
Anthony Ammons, a Warriors forward, added, “They are a blessing. Without realizing it, they have helped me become a better man. Even with serving 102 years to life, they have brought me light and hope for the next day. They allowed me to dream again.”
Smith said he played very little basketball growing up—just a little in junior high and pickup games. “Sports is just a means to an end and a fun way of doing it,” Smith said.
He is faithful to sports ministries. In the same weekend, he brought in a basketball team with Bill Epling, he brought a softball team to play against the San Quentin Hardtimers. “I’ll be back with a football team when the season starts,” Smith added.
“Don’s passion is unbelievable,” Wright said. “Sometimes he brings in teams besides the ones that don’t have sponsors.”
Epling has 40 guys cleared to come inside San Quentin to play on Saturday mornings. He emails them every other week and brings in those who want to play. Sometimes, it just happens to be someone who played pro like Griffin Reilly who played pro ball in Spain, or a division two college title winner, like David King. Last year, Epling brought in Golden State Warriors coach, Mark Jackson and first round draft pick, Draymond Green.
The level of competition makes for great games against the very athletic San Quentin teams and attracts large crowds. They get to see good games and God’s word in action, like the one played Aug. 17. “It was one of the best basketball games ever played in San Quentin,” said Wright.
The Ministries team brought in several guys who played in college, including Reilly. He led the Ministries with 38 points and 10 rebounds, followed by Ministries super fast point guard Tyson’s 32 points and forward Patrick Lacey’s 19 and 11.
The game went back in forth, with the Warriors led by Michael Franklin’s 47 points and 17 rebounds, followed by A. McIntosh’s 31 points, John Windham’s 11 and Maurice Hanks’ 10. It was a nail biter with eight ties and 10 lead changes along the way.
In the final five minutes, the Warriors were winning, 112-118. At that point, Franklin accumulated five fouls guarding Reilly.
“Whoever has the ball, go at number 17 (Franklin), he has five fouls, he doesn’t want to leave the game. We’re doing that,” said Tyson during a time out.
Tyson brought the Ministries within three by hitting a huge three pointer, making the score 115-118. Then after Ministries Mike Picone blocked McInstosh’s shot, they tied the game on a foul and a tech on Warriors forward Hanks, gaining another three points on free throws.
McInstosh took the lead back for the Warriors on a lay-up utilizing an assist from Franklin, but Tyson responded with another three, his sixth of the game, making the score 121-120.
While trying to respond, McIntosh was called for an offensive foul, then Franklin fouled out trying to stop Tyson with 28 seconds left. After hitting one of two free-throws, the score was 122-120, Ministries.
With 10 seconds on the clock, the Warriors had one more chance to make a winning play. Windham rushed the ball down court and launched a three that went in the rim, spun around it and came out, leaving Ministries on top, 122-120 before a frantic crowd.
After everything settled down, the game ended like it started, with a prayer and camaraderie.
