It has been a long time coming for the San Quentin Warriors, but they finally did it: The visiting Green Team was chopped down to size, 77-63. However, the Green Team downed the S.Q. Kings, 85-84, later in the day.
“We couldn’t get into a rhythm because of their zone,” said Green Team’s #14, Ben “The Dagger” Ilegbodu, of the first game. “We could never really get into a comfortable position all game.”
The Warriors opened the fourth quarter with a double-digit lead (16 points), something they maintained since the first quarter.
Warrior Ernest “Demolition Man” Dotson hustled with 16 points-7 for 15, 6 rebounds, one assist and four steals. Leading scorer was Anthony “Half Man, Half Amazing” Ammons with 23 points-9 for 16, 11 rebounds, two assists and two blocks.
The Warriors opened the game with a 29-18 first-quarter lead.
“It doesn’t count unless we beat Green Team. No other team is worth bragging about,” said Warrior head coach Daniel “The House” Wright.
“Tell me something nice; tell me I’ll tall and I’ll call my boys off,” Caesar “Cee Money” McDowell, aka the “Heckler” and McIntosh’s cellie, said to Bill Epling and Mark Ivy when the Warriors led by 15 in the second.
“My mother told me, ‘When you don’t have nothing nice to say…,’” responded Epling.
“I hate everything you stand for,” joked Ivy.
For most of the game, the Warriors employed a 2-3 zone that kept the middle packed tight. It forced The Green Team into a jump shot team, unable to take advantage of its height. The Green Team had 6-foot-10 Ted Hahs, and several 6-foot-6 players, including David King, Patrick Lacey and Mark Ivy.
The Warriors deployed several new offensive plays, including a basic weak-side motion to free up the low block and force defenders to run off of picks.
Dotson stepped in and stepped up for Montrell “Jack That Thang Up” Vines, the Warriors’ best defender. Vines got sidelined with a severely twisted ankle that will keep him out for four to six weeks. Dotson got activate against The Green Team. He had steals at the right time. However, nothing was bigger as an ego booster to the Warriors than when Dotson jumped and blocked Ilegbodu’s three-point attempt, returning it for the fast break lay-up.
“My aggressiveness came from last time, when they came in and took control. I wanted to make a statement. We worked hard and it paid off,” said Dotson. “It means a lot to be a felon in prison and have this opportunity. I appreciated them.”
“We couldn’t get rebounds and we had too many turnovers,” Epling said after the game. “We can’t blame the refs; none of that. Today, we got beat and beat good.”
Maurice “Optimus Prime” Hanks dropped a double-double with 16 points-6 for 17, 10 rebounds, with four steals; Allan “Dark Man X” McIntosh put up 15 points-4 for 18, and 14 boards, three assists, four steals and one block.
Leading scorer for The Green Team was David “The Waiter” King with a double-double 16 points, 13 rebounds, shooting 7 for 13, with two assists, one steal and four blocks.
In the second game, Epling brought in some fresh legs to play against the Kings, who had won the last two out of three games. When the game was at triple zero on the clock, the score was 85-84, Green Team.
Late in the fourth quarter, with only :10 on the clock, and the Kings down by three, Oris “Pep” Williams knocked down a clutch three-pointer from the left side that tied the score at 76-76. This forced the game into overtime.
Epling kept yelling “Shooter! Shooter!” every time Williams touched the ball, trying to keep his second team focused on all threats.
“Pep is a good player. I knew he was going to try to get a three off. I wasn’t surprised when he knocked it down. He’s franchise,” said Lacey, who played in both games. He finished with 31 points on 9 for 19 shooting day.
Antoine “Mad Max” Maddox tried to win the game for the Green Team with a floater, but missed with two seconds left. Williams received the inbound ball in time to attempt a winning shot but Maddox blocked it. Time ran out, driving the game into overtime.
“I never complain about an extra five minutes of basketball,” said Ben Draa.
In overtime, Williams hit another three to give his team the lead at 81-78.
“That was clutch,” said Lacey.
Maddox’s free-throw tied the game. After the Kings failed to score, Maddox dished the ball to Lacey for a post move. He made the basket and took the lead, 83-81.
Kings player Jamal “Dr. J” Green was fouled in the paint going up, but he missed both free-throws. With 44 seconds left, the Kings started fouling to stop the clock.
However, the game wasn’t over. King Tare “Cancun” Beltran pushed the ball down court and went up from three-point land. With two seconds left, the Green Team turned the ball over, giving the Kings one last shot. They failed to capitalize and the Green Team won the May 3 nail-biter.
“I had to make up for my horrible performance this morning. I couldn’t go out like that,” said Lacey after losing to the Warriors but defeating the Kings.
