Sports

Kings Beat OKC In Arena Finale

Published

8 years ago

April 10, 2016

Sacramento, CA – It was a playoff atmosphere. Fans began tailgating early in the parking lot while former NBA legends and staff celebrated an arena that they once called home. More than fifty players and coaches returned to Sleep Train (aka Arco Arena) to say goodbye to the memories and good times shared by all.

In the arena finale, former Kings head coach Rick Adelman, Reggie Theus, TNT’s Kenny Smith, and Mike Bibby were among many in thanking the fans for their support. While it was a nostalgic night, it was business as usual for Sacramento who beat the Thunder 114-112 in their final home game of the season.

“First thing I wrote in my notes is we’re playing a playoff team that will have a playoff atmosphere because of a great historical event,” said coach George Karl. “I don’t think anybody was disappointed with what happened. We rode the wave of the crowd and the energy.”

A season of ups and downs that led to the Kings falling short of a playoff run didn’t put a damper on the outcome of the game or appreciation for the fans. Darren Collison recorded a team-high and season-high 27 points and eight assists. Seth Curry came off the bench and dropped a career-high 6 3-pointers finishing with 20 points. It’s his third 20-point game of the season.

“I try to change the energy when I come in the game and I was able to do that tonight,” Curry said. “These are some of the best fans in the NBA and we knew how bad they wanted a win. It was a great atmosphere, as soon as we came out the tunnel you could feel it.”

This was Sacramento’s final game in the arena, now known as Sleep Train Arena. The first game in the arena, first known as ARCO Arena, was Nov. 8, 1988. Since the building opened in 1988, the Kings have sold out 780 of 1,122 games. The 26 sellout this season are the most since 2006-07. It’s obvious the team hasn’t been that good since Adelman’s playoff team that reached the Finals in 2001-02.

“My fondest memories were coaching the team that got us a chance to play the Lakers in the Finals,” said Adelman. It was a special, special situation where a team came together from the style they played and the way they played, you can’t find that to many times in this league.”

OKC was certain they’d get a win especially since they had led the series 2-1 coming into the game. Sacramento forced the Thunder to turn over the ball 21 times and matched-up well in the in the final minutes of the game. DeMarcus Cousins had 15 points and seven rebounds, but fouled out with 3:26 remaining and struggled missing 17-of-24 shots.

Kevin Durant had 31 points and eight assists. He had made two free throws to tie the game at 101-101 with 3:26 remaining after Cousins fouled out. Darren Collison hit a 3-pointer to push the Kings ahead. But it was Rudy Gay’s late free throws that gave Sacramento the win in the final seconds after he missed two of four free throws in the final minute.

“They trusted me with the ball at the end and I had to perform,” Gay said.

“It was fun. The crowd was amazing the whole night, they were on their feet pretty much the whole entire game,” said Collison. “I remember growing up in LA. I knew how tough Sacramento was because of the fans. They’ve always had a good fan base. I’m sure this win means more to them than it means to us.

Russell Westbrook finished with 24 points and 10 assists, he was fouled on a 3-point attempt and made all three free throws to tie the game again 111-111 with 7 seconds left. On the other end Gay was fouled driving in for a layup. He made both free throws for the win.

“We fought back after being down by eight or so late in the fourth and we tied the game up,” Durant said. “They put it in the refs’ hands again in the fourth and the end of the fourth. Gay made those two free throws. I thought we played great defense, but it’s their last game in here. I know how it goes.”

No championship was ever won at Sleep Train, but there’s a good chance to start over leaving behind the many loses, different coaching changes and poor conditions of the arena. Golden Gate 1 will be the new arena to start the 2016-17 season. The opportunities are endless and the Kings want nothing more than to make new memories in their brand new downtown arena.

“Brand new venue and chance to builds a legacy there,” Gay said. “From what I hear, it’s state of the art – who doesn’t want to be a part of that?”

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Rajah Caruth: Young Trailblazer of NASCAR

Imagine you’re only 22 years old and already making a name for yourself in NASCAR, one of the most thrilling sports in the US. That is the life of Rajah Kirby Caruth, an American professional stock car racing driver.

Published

2 days ago

May 4, 2024

Oakland Post

Rajah Kirby Caruth, an American professional stock car racing driver. (File Photo)

By Tamara Shiloh

Born June 11, 2002, in Washington, DC, he was drawn to the sport as a child after seeing the Disney Pixar film “Cars.”

Caruth dreamed of tooling around the track like the main character in “Cars,” Lightning McQueen. His enthusiasm grew when his parents surprised him with a trip to the NASCAR Cup Series race at Richmond Raceway when he was 12.

In 2018, while keeping busy with school, sports and a summer job, Caruth and his family held fundraisers so that he could buy an iRacing simulator. Then, at age 16, he traded a real driver’s license to race virtually in the eNASCAR Ignite Series, which led to him being recruited by the NASCAR Drive for Diversity Program.

His first big opportunity came in 2019 when he competed in a “Legends” car at Charlotte Motor Speedway in the Bojangles’ Southern Shootout and recorded two top-third in the semi-pro points.

People began to recognize Caruth’s talents. In 2020, he stepped up to the NASCAR Advance Auto Parts Weekly Series and became the first African American to win at Greenville-Pickens Speedway in a late model race. The next year, he won at Tri-County Motor Speedway and picked up his fourth overall late model victory.

Then, he became the first person of color to win at the South Carolina track.

In 2021, Caruth announced he would compete full-time in the ARCA Menards Series East for Rev Racing, where he finished third in the standings, including a series of top-five finishes. He made his NASCAR Xfinity Series debut on a bigger stage as well.

Then, in 2022, thing really took off. A new chapter found Caruth at NASCAR’s unofficial Triple A league with GMS Racing, where he drives full-time for the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series, with a sponsorship from The Wendell Scott Foundation. After a few setbacks, he broke into the top 10 several times, finishing at a career-high 6th at Darlington Raceway.

Fast-forward to 2024, and Caruth’s took the third major step in his career. He is now driving full-time in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series for Spire Motorsports and has been making the news for putting on stellar performances. Oh, and he won at Las Vegas: his first career victory.

From an impressionable young racing fan to a professional NASCAR driver, Caruth is charting a new path, creating history, and inspiring people to always remember that if you have the talent, the drive, and most of all, the heart, anything can be achieved.

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Salesian Coach Knew Angel Jackson Could Play in WNBA

Back in 2019, Salesian Girls Basketball Head Coach Stephen Pezzola made a bold prediction about one of his players, Angel Jackson. “If she keeps putting in the work like she did for us, she could be in the WNBA,” the coach said. That turned out to be very true. Last month, the Las Vegas Aces selected Jackson with the 36th overall pick in the 2024 WNBA Draft. She is the second player from an Historically Black College or University, or HCBU, to be selected in the draft in 20 years.

Published

2 days ago

May 4, 2024

Oakland Post

Angel Jackson. Photo courtesy of Jackston State.

The Richmond Standard

Back in 2019, Salesian Girls Basketball Head Coach Stephen Pezzola made a bold prediction about one of his players, Angel Jackson.

“If she keeps putting in the work like she did for us, she could be in the WNBA,” the coach said.

That turned out to be very true. Last month, the Las Vegas Aces selected Jackson with the 36th overall pick in the 2024 WNBA Draft. She is the second player from an Historically Black College or University, or HCBU, to be selected in the draft in 20 years.

Jackson’s success came as little surprise to Pezzola, who last year led the Pride to their 8th North Coast Section championship since he took over the program in 2008-2009. In 2019, Pezzola commended Jackson as “a very coachable kid” from the time she arrived at Salesian.

Tomekia Reed, her coach at Jackson State, shared similar sentiments, noting Jackson worked “very hard” to reach this moment.

“She came into our program doing great things and never looked back,” Reed told the Clarion Ledger. “She has trusted our leadership as we were able to develop her into an amazing player. I have watched her improve tremendously over the years.”

The 6’-6” Jackson played three seasons at the University of Southern California before transferring to Jackson State. She was ranked 10th in the NCAA in blocked shots and averaged 10 points per game in her final college season.

She finished her collegiate career with 1,047 points and was twice named Southwestern Athletic Conference Defensive Player of the Year.

As the 36th pick, Jackson was the final pick in the 2024 NBA Draft. In a television interview, Jackson said she didn’t expect to be picked, and called the moment “surreal.”

“It made me feel so appreciative that HBCU is getting back on the map again,” she said.

All she could do in that moment was cry.

“I called my mom immediately, and she started crying,” Jackson said. “It was the best moment you can feel as a young lady.”

There’s no stopping Jackson now. “The sky is the limit,” she said.

Her high school coach agrees.

“I knew that Angel could do it,” Coach Pezzola told the Richmond Standard this week. “We are so proud of Angel and what she has accomplished. It was an honor and joy to coach Angel at Salesian.”

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Oakland WNBA Player to be Inducted Into Hall of Fame

The Multi-Ethnic Sports Hall of Fame (MESHOF) announced that it will induct Dr. Alexis Gray-Lawson, a former WNBA player and Oakland Technical High School graduate at its inaugural Curt Flood Platinum Award Ceremony in February. Gray-Lawson’s Platinum Award is part of the Hall of Fame’s 24th Annual Bay Area induction and award ceremony, where four other retired professional athletes will be honored.

Published

2 weeks ago

April 20, 2024

Oakland Post

Photo Courtesy of Alexis Gray Lawson.

By Post staff

The Multi-Ethnic Sports Hall of Fame (MESHOF) announced that it will induct Dr. Alexis Gray-Lawson, a former WNBA player and Oakland Technical High School graduate at its inaugural Curt Flood Platinum Award Ceremony in February.

Gray-Lawson’s Platinum Award is part of the Hall of Fame’s 24th Annual Bay Area induction and award ceremony, where four other retired professional athletes will be honored.

The banquet and ceremony will be held from 5:45 to 10 p.m. on Saturday, Feb. 24, at the George P. Scotlan Convention Center at Oakland’s Marriott Civic Center Hotel.

“I am truly honored to receive this incredible nomination,” said Dr. Alexis Gray-Lawson, who, along with college teammate Devanei Hampton, lead Oakland Tech to its second consecutive state title in 2005. “It took a village to raise me and get me here, and I truly am excited to continue the legacy.”

Gray-Lawson, a “second team” Parade All-American and an All-State honoree, as a senior in ’05, was chosen for the California Interscholastic Federation sportsmanship award. She only lost one game throughout her four-year career in high school. Her jersey was retired at Oakland Tech and placed in the National High School Hall of Fame as a four-time All-City recipient, averaging 17.2 points per game during her career.

Gray-Lawson received scholarships in volleyball, softball, and basketball before deciding to travel up College Avenue to the University of California, Berkeley. There, she played in more basketball games (143) than any other player in Golden Bears’ history. She finished her career as the Bears all-time 3-point leader (211), and she is ranked third in scoring with 1,982 points.

An All-Pac 10 and honorable mention All-American in 2010, Gray-Lawson also was the top player at 5’8” or under for the Frances Pomeroy Naismith Award. Later that year, she was a third-round pick of the Washington Mystics in 2010 and played with the Phoenix Mercury of the Women’s National Basketball Association in 2011 and 2012. She also played professionally overseas in Turkey and Israel.

Other inductees are Clifford Ray (Basketball); Lee Lacy (Baseball); Spencer Haywood (Basketball); and Mohinder Singh Gil (Track & Field).

Organizers say the event promises to be a “historic and celebratory evening,” and iconic personalities from across the professional sports industry and its various disciplines will attend.

The no-host cocktail hour begins at 5:45 p.m.; dinner at 6:45 p.m.; and the ceremony at 7:45 p.m. All times are prompt. General tickets are $250.00; Seniors (65 and older) $150.00, and students $50. This includes dinner and the ceremony. Tables of 10 are available as well, and early purchase is recommended.

MESHOF is a 501(c) (3) nonprofit organization dedicated to honoring athletes from all corners of the globe who have made significant contributions to the world of sports and broadening the public’s understanding of the contributions people of color have made to professional sports; and to provide educational life skills and mentorship opportunities for deserving youth. Proceeds will help maintain the City of Oakland’s Curt Flood Field, Oakland Parks & Recreation, and MESHOF’s after school and mental health initiatives.

Tickets can be purchased online at www.multiethnicsportshof.com. For additional information, please contact: Arif Khatlib @ afrosportshall@aol.com or India Alston @ india@beamcreativehouse.com