The Transformers won the Intramural Basketball Championship beating Madd Skillz 52-47 in game four of the best of five series.
Madd Skillz (“MS”) had a chance to win.
Down two points, they used the press-trap defense to cause a key turnover. MS forward Michael Franklin was fouled with one minute left in the game. However, he missed both free throws, but the second was rebounded and put back in by Blade Kittrell, tying the score at 47.
Then the Transformers took the lead back with a free-throw made by Hanks with 40 seconds left.
At the other end of the court, Hanks blocked MS guard Antoine Heath as he went up for a 12-foot jumper. Transformer Larry “Ty” Jones was fouled to stop the clock and made both clutch free throws, making the score 50-47.
With 30 seconds left in the game, MS got the ball.
Kittrell forced up a three-point attempt with 15 seconds left, but it missed.
The Transformers rebounded the ball and forward Oris “Pep” Williams was fouled to stop the clock, but he made one free-throw, sealing Madd Skillz fate and winning by four.
Madd Skillz played well in this September 15th championship game.
Two Madd Skillz players scored double-doubles: Kittrell 16/15 and Franklin 16/12. They held four Transformers scoreless and their 3-2 trap defense caused key turnovers. But it wasn’t enough—they had no answer for Maurice Hanks, who scored 25.
“I’m proud of my team. It’s full of OGs and nobody thought we would win,” said Hanks post game.
“We failed because I didn’t step up and lead the team,” said Kittrell.
“We lost to a better team. Unlike The Battleship, that was full of individual stars, the Transformers played as a team and won as a team,” said MS coach Aaron “Imam Jeddi” Taylor. “I am extremely proud of every last member of my team. They played hard all season, every game. We won the Eastern Conference and they played the finals with discipline and heart, but this was just one we couldn’t win,” added Taylor
Madd Skillz lost veteran Paul Oliver to an injury in game two, which they won. He still showed up to the remaining games wearing a medical boot on his foot. “I’m here to support the troops,” said Oliver.
The Intramural basketball league is full court and open to all the inmates in general population at San Quentin. It was started by former San Quentin News Sport Editor Drew Piazza.
“I started it when I saw a need with the new influx of inmates from West Block to give everyone something positive to do,” said Piazza.
Right now there are no prizes or rewards for the winners, other then the thrill of victory and bragging rights. Piazza, aka “The Commissioner,” hopes to remedy that by getting sponsors for the next season.
