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Photo by Jon Fuccillot/The Advocate
Building basketball chemistry on and off the hardwood
The Advocate
If every team's recipe for success is the chemistry that circulates on and off the court, then the Saints men's basketball team has nailed it on the head when getting paired as roommates here in Gresham.
Four of the Saints decided that the on-the-court interaction was just the beginning of a bond that would serve more significantly off the court for the long haul.
Those four Saints are sophomore guards Delroy Gibbs (20) and Jake Rickert (21), and freshmen guards Otho Lesure (21) and Marcus Moore (20).
Gibbs and Moore are from Nevada, while Rickert is from Milwaukie (Rex Putnam High) and Lesure is from North Portland (Roosevelt High).
"I try to put more than one guy from out of the area together since they're going through the same thing," head coach Geoff Gibor said. "They can help each other get through tough times.
"The two guys from Nevada have each other to lean on. It gives them an outlet. If I had it my way I would have a huge 6-8 bedroom house and have them all in it."
One thing is for sure: They enjoy each other's company and push one another to be that much better, not only as players but as friends.
"We're really close to each other and get along so well on and off the court," Gibbs said.
Moore added, "I've only known them since September and we're like brothers now. We never argue. If we do, it's on the court and that's all emotional. We're trying to better each other and help each other out."
Lesure said, "We tell each other to go hard during the game before the coach even says anything. These guys are family."
If seeing each other every day at school, practice and games wasn't enough, imagine packing four young competitive men into a three-bedroom apartment in the nearby Kempton Downs complex, across the street from the college.
To make things more interesting, Gibbs and Rickert share the master bedroom. When Rickert was searching for roommates, his plans went sour and he asked the crew if he could move in.
"I don't really care about sharing, to be honest," Gibbs said. "He's never home anyway. Plus, Marcus and O (Lesure) wanted their own rooms."
Rickert added, "I was just trying to find a place out here with some friends and that didn't work out. It kind of just happened. We don't spend much time in the room unless we're sleeping anyways."
Gibbs admitted later that he benefited from Rickert moving into his room. Not only did rent go down in price but he received a gift.
"He (Gibbs) didn't have a bed," Rickert said. "So when I moved in, I had an extra one and gave it to him."
Asked if it's all basketball around the house, they were quick to light up with bright smiles.
"Usually the whole team comes over after the game and critique the game," Moore said. "We're real with each other. We don't sugarcoat anything."
Rickert said, "We usually just chill out and watch and talk basketball."
A fun night for the four is relaxing after a long day of school and basketball, hanging out with nearby friends and, of course, eating. Moore is known as the cook of the house who always keeps their stomachs full. He's also known for tidiness.
Rickert Gibbs and Lesure said their favorite meal is the spaghetti. "But don't forget the steak," Rickert added.
For now, the focus is basketball for the foursome. There was no mention of the future and further plans. Like the game of basketball, it's just one day at a time for the guys representing the Saints basketball team.
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