The San Quentin Warriors whipped the outside Christian Ministries team by 30 points with great energy and focus on defense 112-82.
“My team played with energy from the start of the game, got boards and loose balls,” stated Warriors coach D. Wright. “Our focus on defense caused a gang of turnovers,” added Warriors player A. McIntosh.
The passion exhibited may have been due to the return of Ministries player Tyson, who dropped about 40 on the Warriors last season. “They got amped up cause Tyson was here and we didn’t match their energy,” said Ministries player Ben Ilegbodu, whose 32 points and 12 rebounds weren’t nearly enough.
The Warriors defense matched up guard Alias Jones against Tyson L. Jones ended up with seven rebounds, three steals, one block and five points. Meanwhile, Tyson scored 13, but, despite great speed and his ability to get to the rack, missed many lay-ups and ended up making only five out of 17 shots.
Tyson says he was off because he “hadn’t played in a year.” “In shape and ready to go, Tyson drops 40,” added teammate Ilegbodu.
The win improves the Warriors record to three wins and six loses against the Bill Epling’s Christian Ministries team. “They ain’t coming in here and winning no more my told players me,” Warriors coach Wright said.
‘My team played with energy
from the start of the game’
Leading Warriors scorer Michael Franklin stated, “this is the best team in 10 years and we ain’t playing at out top performance yet. Wait till we gel,” after a previous win in July, where he scored 35.
Perhaps they’ve gelled now. In this August 3 game, the Warriors had 15 assist and several players scored in the double digits. Franklin scored 37 points with 18 boards, McIntosh: 22 and 14, Anthony Ammons: 14 and 14, Reese Hanks: 13 and 10, Jah Strokes and MD Vines added 10 points apiece.
The game didn’t start so good. Warriors player Marcus Cosby was having heart problems towards the end of the first quarter and “man down” had to be called. By the time medical arrived, he was feeling better, but was taken for a check up anyway. As he left, Coach Wright stated, “you won’t play again for the Warriors without a doctor’s note.” The quarter ended with Christian Ministries up, 19-16.
Then the Warriors turned it up, led by Franklin. Ministries defensive plan became stopped Franklin. “Let’s get on 17 (Franklin). Shut him down,” Ministries player Ivy exclaimed. Ilegbodu volunteered to take on that duty, but to no avail.
The second quarter ended 53-39 Warriors.
“We have to pick up our offense and defense, they’re possessed right now. Hopefully we’ll get Ben hot and make a few threes,” stated Ministries coach Epling during the half time break.
Franklin slammed dunk in the third, making the score 70-48 Warriors. The Ministries team never got closer than 14 from that point on. The Warriors kept playing with energy and closed the game out.
