Madness/A. Wash Garner Kenner Crown
Ron Bailey, Publisher
Chase finally gets Kenner Crown as a pro
August 17, 2009 – The 2009 Jabbo Kenner League has concluded, with perennial entry Madness/A. Wash winning the ‘chip’ before a large crowd at Georgetown University’s McDonough Arena yesterday. During their 85-76 victory over Beyond Belief, Brian Chase, an international league pro headed to Vive Menorca of Spain’s Liga ACB, scored a game high 26 points, and hinted at great motivation for winning.
“This is my first championship up here, in three tries” said the longtime D.C.-based professional hooper (he did win Kenner as a collegian). “We lost in the championship last year”. The victory could be seen as a going away present, as he departs for Spain this week. Resultantly, fans will not see him play elsewhere in the city this summer. Brian, for his performance, was named Kenner League 09 Championship game MVP.
Brian Chase (center), is here leading the Madness/A. Wash attack with Calvin Brown (left) and Brian Mathews (right) on his flanks.
Madness/A. Wash outscored Beyond Belief 16-2 over a period of more than
four and a half minutes in the second half, using pick and roll offense
in which the ball was rotated to open shooters. Both Marshall University
forward Antonio Hayman (19 points) and Brian Matthews (11 points), a professional
with international league experience, were also consistent offensive threats.
The team’s owner/sponsor, Anthony Wash, owner of D.C.-based A. Wash
and Associates for 13 years and a basketball coach and team general manager
for 15, noted of the stretch: “They (Beyond and Belief) were playing
pro style defense; before they played a lot of zone but today were playing
man. They fell into our hands with that”.
Beyond Belief, paced by Israeli league pro Isaiah Swann(25 points) and Virginia Tech forward Jeff Allen (16 points) must be credited for their tenacity, as despite going scoreless for about five minutes in the first half, were only down three at halftime, after Swann’s at the buzzer three ball. They continued to play well, tying the ballgame at 49 with 8:50 to go.
Despite going down fourteen after that, Beyond Belief was able to chip the deficit to six points, capitalizing on a fouling strategy and their opponent’s poor foul shooting. Turnovers by Madness/A. Wash also played a factor in the near score leveling .
But in the end, it wasn’t enough. Hat’s off to the victors, Madness/A. Wash. They are the kings of this year’s Jabbo Kenner League.
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