Teamwork earned the visiting Bittermen basketball squad a sweet 78-68 victory over the San Quentin Kings.
“It’s amazing what we can do when we all work together and nobody cares who gets the credit. Teamwork, hustle and ball movement got us the win,” said Aidan Coffino of the Bittermen. Coffino normally plays for the Trailblazers.
The Bittermen started out hot. They made crisp passes to the open man, who knocked down his shots. Will Wheatley led his team in the first quarter, which ended with the Bittermen up, 24-14.
Led by Oris “Pep” Williams, and Marvin Cosby, the Kings came charging back, taking a 31-29 lead by halftime.
From there the game was a dogfight with the lead changing back and forth until the fourth quarter. Bittermen’s Tim Hall played hard, ending up on the concrete several times fighting for position and loose balls.
With eight minutes left in regulation, the score was 53-52 Bittermen. Then Bittermen Tom Tunny stole the ball, made the pass to a teammate, who made a layup inside despite being fouled. He missed the free-throw.
Then Coffino, the youngest and shortest member of his team, nailed a three, his third of the game, making the score 58-52. Coffino is in his 20s and stands about 5-foot-6.
Just as Wheatley, the former San Francisco Rumble basketball player, went cold, Bittermen Ryan Williams came alive in the final quarter. He stole the ball after it was inbounded, went to the rack and made a hook shot while being fouled, completing the and-one with the free-throw. He scored 8 points in the last quarter for a total of 14, along with 4 steals, 3 assists and 6 rebounds.
“It was a good team effort. The team really picked me up today,” said Wheatley.
The Kings’ Larry “TY” Jones hit a late three-pointer, but there wasn’t enough time left on the clock to complete a comeback. Jones ended with 11 points and 8 rebounds. Oris Williams led all scorers with 21 points, 8 rebounds and 2 assists. Cosby added 14.
“They out-played us in every facet. They were more physical, and we were out-coached and out-played,” said Kings Coach Orlando Harris.
Four Bittermen, in addition to Ryan Williams, scored in the double-figures. Will Wheatley dropped 19, Hall and Coffino added 11 each and Tom Tunny had 13.
“When everybody scores, we win,” said Bittermen’s Ted Saltviet, the only Bittermen who didn’t score. “That was the strategy,” he jokingly claimed while smiling after gaining his third victory this season.
Normally, the Bittermen only win one or two games a year. This season they combined with players from a new team called the Trailblazers, including Wheatley. The combination has given the talented Kings a run for their money, which they appreciate.
“I can’t sleep the night before each game. I keep waking up, looking at the clock to see if it’s time yet. We appreciate ya’ll coming in here,” said King Charles Sylvester during a pre-game huddle with both teams and referees standing around half-court on The Lower Yard surrounded by barbwire.
“We’re still trying to get a road game,” he joked at the July 18 game.
