Two new basketball teams upset last year’s favorites in the Intramural League opener on San Quentin’s Lower Yard.
The Franchise, the defending champions, were upset by Squad Up, a new team, 70-55, and Pookie and the Boys beat Net Zero, 45-41.
The same team members returned for the Franchise squad, which swept everyone to win the championship last season.
Squad Up consists of Allan McIntosh, Oris “Pep” Williams, Rafael Cuevas, Greg Eskridge, Julio Saca, Carlyle “Otter” Blake, Aubra-Lamont”Coocoo” McNeely, Edward Moss and Jeffery “Mailman” Ratchford. Their coach is Orlando Harris, who also coaches the Kings.
McIntosh led all scores with 24 points, 16 rebounds and an assist. Eskridge contributed 11 points and 10 rebounds, and Saca added 10 points.
Montrell Vines led the Franchise with 15 points.
In the first half, both teams played as if they had jet lag. Several back-to-back turnovers and air-balled layup littered the stat sheets. A 10-0 run and a Saca layup at the buzz put Squad Up ahead 27-20. In the second half, Squad Up improved their play with help off the bench and put The Franchise away.
The second game of the doubleheader was between Pookie and the Boys and Net Zero.
Charles “Pookie” Sylvester led the Boys with 16 points, 4 rebounds, 2 steals, 1 block and an assist. Zaid Nicksolson added 12 points and 11 rebounds.
In the final three minutes of the game, Net Zero was down six points. Their coach, Harun Taylor, had his team trap the Boys’ guards and caused a few turnovers. D. “Frog” DeWitt of Net Zero came alive, aggressively pouring on offense, but a travel call hampered his comeback efforts. He led Net Zero with 10 points, 3 rebounds, 4 assists and 2 steals.
Boys’ coach Marcus Henderson advised his team to hold the ball and run the clock out. Anyone who continued to shoot was pulled out of the game, except Sylvester, who took an ill-advised three-point shot and made it, sealing the win for the Boys.
–By Rahsaan Thomas
