Marvin Cosby’s three-pointer at the buzzer lifted the San Quentin Kings over the Christian Sports Ministry Basketball Green Team, 73-72, in a game that featured the return of Golden State Warriors Assistant General Manager Kirk Lacob.
“That’s the best way to end a game – with no time on the clock,” said Kings player Antonio Manning.
“They played together as a team, played through adversity, and we kept our composure,” said Kings Head Coach Orlando Harris.
Green Team led 71-64 with 3:32 left in regulation after Kevin Kelly nailed his second three-pointer of the game. Afterward, they focused on running out the clock.
The Kings came back. Aubra-Lamont “Coocoo” McNeely dropped his fifth trey, making the score 71-69.
Then Lacob missed at the rack and fouled the Kings’ Oris “Pep” Williams. He made one free throw, but missed the other and a chance to tie.
Green Team’s Chris Blees was fouled, stopping the clock at 35 seconds. He made one free throw for a 72-70 lead.
The Kings rotated the ball to Larry “TY” Jones, who shot an air ball. Cosby cut down the baseline, grabbed the rebound and called timeout, with three seconds left.
Williams called a double-screen play that was executed perfectly. Williams set the pick, and Demond Lewis dished Cosby the ball. Cosby went for the jump shot. The basketball released over Kelly’s outstretched hand and swished all net before the referee signaled time expired.
“Stellar shot,” said Green Team’s Pat Lacey.
“I knew it was good when it left my hands,” said Cosby.
He dropped 15 points. Thad Fleeton led the Kings with 17.
The Golden State Warriors NBA playoff win over Memphis allowed Lacob to play basketball in San Quentin. He arrived back in the Bay Area at 4 a.m. that May 16 morning, after flying in from Memphis.
Golden State’s clinch of a Western Conference finals appearance eliminated the need of a game seven and Lacob’s presence at Oracle Arena. This was Lacob and Golden State accountant Ben Draa’s first time back inside the prison this season.
“I feel like I have family here. I’ve been coming inside San Quentin for nine years. It’s a constant reminder (of my blessings); I get value out of this,” said Draa.
Lacob and Draa missed the Green Team’s first game of their double-header against the San Quentin Warriors. The S.Q. Warriors won, 92-53.
McNeely and King’s Captain Brian Asey greeted the Green team before tip-off.
“It is a privilege to welcome these guys back. I look forward to them coming in,” Asey said.
“I’ve never seen brotherhood like this,” said McNeely. “Y’all are my friends. Y’all are part of the community that we terrorized and now we are trying to change our lives, and y’all are helping us do that.”
The game was all gas. With 7:35 left in the second, Pat Lacey jammed off a King turnover. Lacey’s basket put the Green Team up, 24-19.
“That was my first dunk since knee surgery,” said Lacey.
The Kings took the lead with McNeely’s hot shooting. He traded treys with the Green Team, making three in a row followed by a fourth made by Williams, which put the Kings up 38-35.
McNeely shot 5-7 from behind the arc.
“We are letting him get too many open threes – we have to run him off the line and make him drive,” Lacey said about McNeely.
Lacob answered with a trey, tying the half-time score at 38. Lacob and Lacey contributed 15 points each. Lacey also had 10 boards. Chris Blees led the Green Team with 23 points and 18 rebounds.
The game went back and forth until the Kings overcame in the final second.
“Like Bishop said earlier, there is competition and there is driven – we are all driven to have fun, win or lose,” said the Green Team’s Mark Little.
