Both the San Quentin Warriors and Kings defeated the Christian Sports Ministry’s Green Team in their basketball double-header. It marked the first win of the season for the Warriors, who won 69-63. The Kings won 75-68.
In the Warriors’ game, teams traded buckets in the first quarter until 5-foot-3 Warrior Harold Malbrouga came off the bench and ignited his team.
Warrior Coach Daniel Wright said, “He (Malbrouga) is what I consider to be my only true real point guard—his IQ of the game makes him a natural. He stabilized the offense.”
Malbrouga broke down the defense with his speed and made a dime pass to David Lee for the layup in traffic. Malbrouga also nailed two jumpers, including a three. By the end of the quarter, the Warriors led 25-13.
“We lost in the first quarter,” said Green Team guard Remy Pinson.
Malbrouga expressed his appreciation for being a Warrior.
“I played for the Valley High Vikings,” said Malbrouga. “For basketball to still be part of my life while I’m going through the disciplinary part is an opportunity in itself.”
At halftime, Green Team center and Claremont-Connection recruiter Pat Lacy told the Warriors, and later the Kings, how he explains to people why he enjoys going into a prison to play basketball so much.
“It’s inspiring to see how you guys keep trying to better yourselves, and I know your life’s been hard,” said Lacey. “In my life, I think about how you carry your burdens, how you keep being good people, and it’s inspiring. I love coming in here.”
Warrior Darrell Benford answered, “It’s inspiring to know people outside this prison care about us. It really makes me feel like there’s hope. It inspires me to be a better person and give back to society.”
The Warriors kept their distance until the Green Team made a run in the third led by Pinson, who heated up and made 9 of 11 shots straight, including four threes, to take a 45-44 lead. He finished with 28 points.
However, Warriors Harry “ATL” Smith and Allan McIntosh answered back. Smith got to the line and made two free throws. McIntosh got an and-One, taking the lead back at 49-45.
Pinson closed the gap again in the fourth quarter with his team down six. Lacey hit him with a behind-the-back pass for a layup. Then Pinson hit a deuce, making the score 64-62 Warriors.
Warrior Tevin Fournette increased the lead, nailing back-to-back short-range jumpers, making the score 68-62. Fournette finished with 10 points, McIntosh 17, Smith 13, Anthony Ammons 11, Lee 8 and Malbrouga 5.
Lacey fouled out, and the Green Team couldn’t make a bucket in the final minute of the June 18 games.
Lacey finished with 7 points, 9 rebounds, 5 assists, 2 steals and 4 blocks.
In the Kings game, D. “Zayd” Nickolson and Thad Fleeton led their team to victory with 14 and 12 points, respectively.
The Kings led all the way through the game, although the score was close at times. In the third quarter, Beau Heidrich nailed a three for the Green Team, making the score 36-34. Then Fleeton came to life, hitting his post-up turnaround jumper twice in a row, then again after teammate Tare “Cancun” Beltran scored, increasing the lead to 49-36.
Heidrich finished with 13 points, Pinson 19, and Lacey clocked a double-double with 18 points and 16 rebounds plus 5 assists, 2 steals and a block.
Lacey three-pointer in the fourth brought the Green Team to within three at 66-69 in the fourth with 68 seconds to go.
The Kings sealed the game when Demond Lewis made his first free throw but missed his second and Nickolson got the rebound, was fouled and made another free throw.
Lewis and Beltran finished with 9 points each.
King Joseph Kelly credits the win to “defense and passing the ball.”
