Warriors out-gun Legends 141-121

Legends proved they still had it in keeping pace, however

   (RLNN) - About 150 basketball fans came out for the annual Boys and Girls Club Basketball Fundraiser on Wednesday, November 19, 2003, which matched the upcoming Red Lake Warrior basketball team against the Red Lake Hoop Legends–a team consisting of Red Lake Warrior Legends of the past, even as far back as when Don ‘Buckwheat” Graves used to play.

      Besides Graves, the Legends team consisted of Everret ‘Bo’ Johnson, Kevin Hart Sr., Dean Jourdain, Edward ‘Beebe’ Strong, Kevin Sigana, Dan ‘Boone’ Perkins, Floyd ‘Buck’ Jourdain, John Graves, Dewayne ‘Ole’ Spears, and Nolan Desjarlait.

      The Red Lake Warriors team consisted of Clayton Roberts, Preston ‘Buster’ Graves, Jeff Barrett, Mike Jourdain, Dave Barrett, Challenge Johnson, Phillip Jourdain, Charles Goodwin, Delwyn Brown, Robin Kelly, and Joe Jackson.

      The Rez Dawg–Gary Jourdain Jr.–provided the ‘Rucker Park’ style play-by-play, and various organizations also donated their services to the fundraiser, including referees, scorekeepers and jerseys provided by the Indian and Free Drug Program, Native Flight donated Native Hoops T-shirts, and of course the players all donated their time for the event.

      Red Lake’s Legends controlled at the tip off, and it was Bo Johnson nailing a 3-pointer to draw first blood. Dave Barrett answered with 2 of his own, and after Buckwheat missed his second shot attempt, Barrett hit another 2 to give the Warriors the lead.

      Unanswered baskets by Charles Goodwin, Challenge Johnson and Phillip Jourdain’s 3-pointer put the Warriors up 11-3.

      Ed Strong hit for 2, Boone Perkins added 2 more, and Kevin Sigana nailed two 2-pointers and a 3-bagger to put the Legends back on top, 14-12.

      It was Ole Spears and Sigana for each 2 more to give the Legens a 6-point lead, 18-12, until Challenge Johnson finally hit 2 for the Warriors.

      John Graves hit a freethrow, Nolan Desjarlait connected for 2, and Clayton Roberts hit for the Warriors putting the score at 21-16 in favor of the Legends.

      Boone Perkins put in 2 more for the Legends, with Dave Barrett answering with a 3-pointer, followed by exchanges of baskets from just about everyone; Sigana, Goodwin, Perkins, Jeff Barrett with a 3, Ed Strong with a 3, Jeff Barrett with another 3, Kevin Hart with 3 from downtown, Robin Kelly yet another 3, Bo Johnson 2, Jeff Barrett 2, Kevin Hart 2, Robin Kelly 2, Joe Jackson two 2 pointers, Jeff Barrett 2, Boone Perkins 2, Buck Jourdain a 3-bagger, Sigana 2, Buck Jourdain 2 again, Jeff Barrett 2, John Graves two freethrows, Goodwin 2, John Graves 1 freethrow, Robin Kelly 2, Goodwin 2, Nolan Desjarlait 2, Clayton Roberts 2, Boone Perkins a 3 pointer, Goodwin for 2, and Jeff Barrett’s 2 knotted the game 54-54 with less than 2 minutes to go in the half.

      Sigana put the Legends on top with his 2 points, but it was all Red Lake Warriors after that as the remaining seconds ran off the clock, with Challenge Johnson, Goodwin and Johnson again with 2 to put the Warriors up 62-56 at the buzzer.

      Although the Legends put on quite a show keeping pace with the quick run-and-gun tempo of the young Warriors, once they were behind by over 10 points, they couldn’t make up the difference, as the final score at the buzzer was 141-121.

      Two hundred and sixty-two points of offense came out of this fast paced game, and it was very entertaining right down to the very end.

      Besides a half-take drawing at half-time, 6 ticket holders also had an opportunity to win $150.00 by sinking a shot from half court. All six contestants came up short, with none of them hitting the rim. But it was fun to watch. Anyone of them could have nailed the shot.

      The Boys and Girls Club thanked everyone for their participation, as well as their contributions, time, efforts, and help in making the event the success it truly was.