This wasn’t your typical All-Star event where everyone takes it easy; both teams in the Intramural Basketball All-Star game were out to win. The East closed out the contest, 108-107, after the West’s Harry “ATL” Smith sank a three-pointer a moment too late.
“I wanted to win,” said Michael Franklin of the West.
“The game could have gone either way,” said East coach Orlando Harris.
“We the best of the best out here,” said Oris “Pep” Williams.
The East team included Maurice Hanks, Williams, Alias Jones, DuPriest Brown, Allan McIntosh, Antonio “Boobie” Cavitt, Jay Brown, Jamal Green, Brian Asey, Lomack, Aubra-Lamont McNeely and Darryl Ferris.
The West consisted of H. Smith, Marcus Cosby, Franklin, Donte Smith, Junior Roberts, Michael Tercero, Charles Sylvester, Terrell Sterling, Erick Nelson, Ed Quinn and Kenneth Dozier. Aaron Taylor coached the West.
The game went back and fourth in the fourth quarter with missed free throws and fouls costing each team. H. Smith tied the game at 97 all by making one from the line. Hanks was fouled going the other way, but missed both free throws. His teammate Jones got the rebound and gave Hanks the ball, but Nelson fouled Hanks, who missed both free throws again.
Hanks made up for going 0-4 in a row from the line by hitting a three-pointer, putting his team up 100-97.
Dozier tried to tie the score with a three that was off the mark, but Franklin rebounded the ball and put it in –100-99. Cavitt and Reese scored for the East with back-to-back baskets, increasing to 104-99.
Then H. Smith responded with a strong move to the rack, making the score 104-101.
A few plays later, Cavitt was bringing the ball down court when Franklin mugged him in the backcourt. Franklin dribbled to the hole and went up for a layup when Cavitt pulled him down to stop the easy basket. The refs called it a flagrant two foul and gave the East two free throws and the ball. Franklin hit both.
H. Smith was fouled going to the rack. He made the basket, but it didn’t count. Smith tied the score from the line, but failed to take the lead — 105-105.
H. Smith fouled McIntosh, who only hit one free throw with 13 seconds left.
With five seconds left, H. Smith drew the defense, then kicked the ball out to Cosby at the free throw line, who hit the short jumper — West 107-106.
With two seconds left, the East went to sharpshooter Williams, who was celebrating his 53rd birthday that July 5. Williams went up for the three, but was fouled by Nelson.
“If he didn’t foul me that was going in; all bottoms,” said Williams post game.
Williams made two of three free throws, putting the East up 108-107.
“We did good. We made a foul that wasn’t supposed to be made. It sent Pep to the line, and he’s Mr. Clutch — he made the free-throws for his team,” said Franklin.
The West got the rebound and called time out with two seconds left. The ball was in-bounded to H. Smith, who dribbled the ball twice, went up and hit the three-pointer that would have won the game if it were in time.
Hanks led his team as MVP with 30 points, 12 boards, two assists and a block. Williams had 23 with 12 rebounds, an assist and a steal. McIntosh added 19 with six boards, three assists and two steals.
For the West, the first half was the Mike and Mike show. Franklin led all scorers with 35 points, 17 rebounds, an assist and two steals. He was Co-MVP with Hanks. Tercero posted 10 points, eight rebounds, an assist and two steals, but he fouled out early in the fourth quarter. H. Smith added 11 with 12 boards, seven assists and a steal.
“I really wasn’t expecting to make the All-Star team, but I really did,” said Tercero.
