San Quentin Prison Report won prison bragging rights by defeating the San Quentin News in a half-court game of four-on-four basketball, 31-18.
“I told you y’all couldn’t beat us,” bragged Troy Williams after the game was over.
The newspaper crew started off on the wrong foot, as several key players didn’t show up to play, including Kris Himmelberger, Malik Harris, Richard “Bonaru” Richardson, JulianGlenn Padgett and Phoeun You.
“I was disappointed that we had no support. They had their whole team and we had to recruit people off the streets,” said the News’ Juan Haines.
The game took place in the gym on Saturday night, April 5, before a crowd of about 50 prisoners.
During the second play of the game, Report player Greg Eskridge came down over the News’ Rahsaan Thomas’ back with an accidental elbow to the temple. The blow opened up a cut which wouldn’t stop bleeding and Thomas left the game for about 10 minutes.
“Whatever it takes to win,” Eskridge joked about the mishap.
The News started off with the lead as Haines scored from the three-point line, but it was short lived. Wallace “Sha” Stepter was on fire for the Report, hitting mid-range jumpers from everywhere. Meanwhile, Eskridge controlled the boards.
Down 28-14, the News tried to come back, but their efforts were stopped at 31-18 when Brian Asey hit the game-winning basket.
Stepter led the Report with 10 points, Curtis “Wall Street” Carroll added seven, Williams scored five with seven rebounds, Eskridge score four with 13 rebounds. The Report posted a 40-20 rebounding edge.
Joe Demerson played for the short-handed News team and led with eight points.
Special rules applied where field goals counted as one point, except those from three-point range, which counted as two.
