Some say age brings wisdom and experience to the basketball
court.
Five weeks ago the Ballers, a team mostly comprised of former
college players, gave Rise & Admire Us, a team made of mostly
UCLA freshmen, a stern education, whipping the youngsters by 17
points.
But that loss was perhaps the best thing to happen to the young
team, and Rise & Admire Us picked up things quickly.
They increased their tempo and perspicacity on the court and
gained the experience they lacked early on in the season.
With an eight-game winning streak heading into the 2003 Nike
Women’s Say No Classic Championship game, Rise & Admire
Us made it nine by handing their elders, the Ballers, their first
defeat of the entire season by a slim margin, 53-49.
“They were getting open shots last time we played them
because our defensive was lax,” UCLA freshman forward Noelle
Quinn said. “But that was our second game of the season.
“¦ It should be a different game this time around.”
Things seemed out of order for Rise & Admire Us even before
tip-off; Bruin sophomore guard Nikki Blue was a no-show.
Nevertheless, Quinn picked up the offensive slack early on and
scored 10 of her game-high 17 points in the first half. She had her
jump shot working and took it to the hoop on many occasions,
causing problems for the Ballers throughout the game.
UCLA sophomore Lisa Willis could not find her touch as she went
1-for-10 from the field, but she provided some much-needed relief
on the glass and on the defensive end.
Yet despite Quinn’s offensive output and Willis’
defense, the Ballers were able to show why they were undefeated in
the regular season. Behind Lauri McIntosh’s team-leading 11
points, the Ballers kept the score close all game long.
Maybe it was the intensity of the game, but Rise & Admire Us
coach Robert John Evans Jr. was constantly looking over at the
entrance of the Southwest College gym. He stopped when he finally
found what he was looking for.
Blue showed up, albeit fashionably late.
“I had to move into my apartment and everything “¦
and you know the L.A. traffic,” Blue said.
Right after she checked in at the scorer’s table with 2:30
remaining in the first half, she made her presence felt by scoring
after penetrating the middle of the lane and converting off a
right-handed scoop shot.
It almost seemed as if Blue was that burst of energy Rise &
Admire Us needed, but the Ballers were fortunate enough to be down
by only one point heading into the second half.
It was a seesaw battle back and forth in the second half as the
Ballers continued to take shots from downtown. With the exception
of Alicia Hernandez, who went 3-for-6 from beyond the arc, Rise and
Admire Us shut down the three-point line for the rest of the team
as they hit only 2-for-13 the entire game.
“They play like an all-star team. “¦ They don’t
know each other like we do,” Willis said. “With the
chemistry we have, we know where each other are on the court, where
we like our passes, and where we like to shoot it.”
The Ballers never could hit their outside jumpers, but they
out-rebounded their opponents on the offensive glass by nine, which
led to 20 second-chance points.
Rise & Admire Us continued their concept of team ball, which
was indicative of Quinn’s play in the second half. The future
Bruin connected on a no-look pass at the 13:20 mark to another UCLA
freshman, Amanda Livingston, who finished with 10 points. Seconds
later, she mimicked that same assist, but this time she hit an open
Blue, who finished it off with the left hand.
“I told them to go out and play basketball. “¦ Play
your game,” Evans Jr. said. “Whether you win or lose,
there’s no shame in losing if you played your own
game.”
Down the stretch, the Ballers found themselves behind by as many
as seven points, so they were forced to foul to stop the clock.
Rise & Admire Us cashed in on their free throws down the
stretch, making 14-for-16 from the line to hold off the
Ballers.
“It’s been fun playing with them (UCLA players), but
I can’t wait to play against them,” Markisha Lea of USC
said.
Upon overhearing her teammate’s comment on their impending
rivalry, Willis said jokingly, “Deep down inside Markisha
knows she wants to be a Bruin.”