Patrick Lacey had two double-doubles in back-to-back games against the San Quentin Warriors and Kings. He had 23 points and 10 rebounds for Christian Sport Ministries in the 88-84 win over the Warriors, plus 15 points and 18 rebounds in the 76-56 loss to the Kings.
Lacey played for Claremont-McKenna College and made it to the second round of the NCAA in 2008. He is currently a scout for the Golden State Warriors organization, according to teammate Ben Draa.
Bill Epling, who coaches and organizes Christian Sport Ministries teams, brought in one group of guys to play the Warriors and another to play the Kings. The group scheduled against the Kings was shorthanded, and Lacey was enlisted to play in both. “I’m proud of my guys for giving up their Saturday,” said Epling.
The Ministries team included NBA legend John Stockton’s nephew, Dominic G. “Everything I learned about basketball, I learned from him,” said Dominic. He had four blocks, seven rebounds and four points. “I got the height,” said the 6’7” Dominic, who resembles Paul Gasol, according to Epling.
“Intense games. I had a great time. I’m tired,” said Lacey after the Oct. 5 games.
The games were intense. Christian Sports Ministries, aka the Green Team, got off to a 10-0 start. At the half, they were ahead, 46-39, after Warrior Allan McIntosh missed a shot at the buzzer, Thereby, he lost a two push-up bet to Ministries forward, Mark “Socks” Ivy, who wore his lucky black and yellow Batman socks, complete with capes flowing from them.
The Ministries were heckled the whole game by San Quentin resident, Caesar “C-Money” McDowell. “After Scalabrine, is this all y’all could come up with? We don’t let nobody with Batman socks win here,” joked Caesar.
The heckling didn’t stop Ivy. He went on to score 20 with 10 rebounds. “Every time I wear these socks I get a boost. They remind me to step my game up,” said Ivy.
However, the Warriors came back led by Michael Franklin stealing the ball three times in a row and scoring all three times, including a slam dunk to take the lead, 51-50. Franklin went on to score 31. McIntosh and Anthony Ammons, 14 apiece.
Ministries were without a true point guard and the Warriors used pressure defense to cause turnovers and take the lead, increasing it as much as four.
But, the Ministries were able to overcome the pressure. “Everybody help bring the ball up court ‘cause we don’t have a true point guard,” advised Lacey. Ben Ilegbodu regained the lead with a three at the buzz to end the third quarter.
Warrior point guard, John Windham tied the score back up with an answering three at the start of the fourth. The lead went back and forth until Ministries took advantage of a defensive gap with long pass down court for easy baskets and closed the game out from the free throw line.
Ilegbodu, who averages 29.5 a game, only scored 15. “[Montrell Vines] is the reason I only had 15. His pressure defense takes me out of my game,” complimented Ilegbodu.
Vines, aka, the Ultimate One-on-One Defender, shyly gave his testimony about the changes he has made, including becoming a Christian. “Always be ready to give a reason for the hope that you have,” encouraged Epling.
The game had one solemn moment though. At halftime, Wright asked for a moment of silence for the soul of Ken Smith, brother of Christian Ministries sponsor Don Smith. Ken was a rescue diver who died on Sept. 8, during a mission to recover a cadaver robot for the San Francisco Police Department. Smith didn’t tell anyone about his brother’s death when he came in September 20 with Golden State Warrior Coach Mark Jackson and the others, because he didn’t want to put a damper on that event, said Wright.
In the second game, the Kings took an early lead and never looked back. Kings team captain and point guard, Brian Asey had a near flawless shooting day, hitting six of seven from the field, two for two from the line. He normally starts, but led his team off the bench with 16 points in this game. “I was relaxed. No pressure. I didn’t start and was able to just play my game,” said Asey about his success.
Fifty-four year old Epling had a double-double, coming off the bench to score 10 with 10 rebounds.
Aubra-Lamont “Coo-Coo” Moore came off the bench for the Kings and hit 13 points, including four three-pointers.
Win or lose, everybody had fun. “I wait all week for this,” said McDowell, the heckler.
