Juston Willis drained a three at the buzzer for the comeback, 84-82, Green Team victory in the season finale against the San Quentin Warriors.
“#$@!&)*” and other unprintable expletives, said Warriors coach Daniel Wright about the loss.
“It’s a joyous feeling to hit that shot. You can’t script anything like that to happen,” said Willis. “It’s another catalyst for coming back next season.”
San Quentin basketball season ended with the Nov. 15 game and resumes in March.
The game was literally a battle, said Todd Hahs. He showed off six wounds after the game.
The almost 7-foot center scored seven of his 28 points from the free-throw line.
Hahs played pro in Portugal and is now a minister. Hahs has ministered to prisoners in South America along with the transformourworld.org website.
The Warriors led from the jump, up 22-17 at the end of the first quarter and 49-42 at the end of the second. Maurice Hanks led the early charge for the Warriors going hard in what was his last game as a Warrior because he is scheduled to parole before next season.
“When you’re out, you’re off the team. We’ll miss you but don’t ever come back to play in here,” said Green Team sponsor Bill Epling. “I remember when Maurice was an angry young fella. Now he’s somebody who a father wouldn’t mind dating his daughter … I didn’t say my daughter,” Epling joked.
Hanks finished his Warriors career with a double double, 21 points and 10 boards.
In the fourth quarter, Green Team was up 81-78 with 53 seconds left when Harry “ATL” Smith stole the ball and laid it up for the Warriors.
On the Green Team possession, Hahs decided to try to put a “nail in the coffin” of the Warriors, but missed the short jumper, which Alias Jones rebounded and launched down court. Allan McIntosh finished the play with a layup, giving the Warriors an 82-81 lead with 25 seconds left.
In the last possession, Kyle Fowler took control, slowing the game down for a last-second shot. As the Warriors focused on him and Hahs, nobody guarded Willis, who was wide open at the three-point line, where he received the dish and released his shot with one second left. The ball swished through the net as time expired and the crowd erupted in excitement.
Willis finished with 14 points, two blocks and a steal. Fowler added 12 points and Tyree McCary scored 12 with 11 boards for the Green Team.
McIntosh finished with 26 points, seven rebounds, two steals and one assist.
The game was characteristic of Warriors-Green Team games. Many went down to the wire or into overtime and could have been won by either team. However, the Green Team holds the edge at 10-5 for this season. The Warriors still emerged with a winning 14-12 record overall. They only lost two games to their other rivals, Imago Dei and the Outsiders, and scored big wins over the Golden State Warriors and Pacific Union College.
“It’s been a great season,” said Christian Sports Ministry sponsor Don Smith. “We had the most events this year, 25 basketball games, six softball and one flag-football. Next year I want to add soccer and more football.”
“Another successful season,” said Warriors general manager Robert “Bishop” Butler. “Basketball is the reason, but Jesus is the hook.”
