In this article, Dawg Pound Ends All In’s Undefeated Run Behind Dave Elliott Jr.’s 24-Point Performance, MyntJ tells the story a basketball battle with a family twist! Felicia Enriquez, aka Mynt J, is the host of the podcast BlackLove and Basketball – Compton Edition. She is a Clippers fan, an NBA credentialed creator representing thePeachBasket.
Two fathers and two sons take center stage at the Drew as Dawg Pound hands All In its first loss.
COMPTON — Dawg Pound entered Sunday’s matchup against undefeated All In with something to prove. By the final buzzer, there was no question about the message they sent.
Dawg Pound defeated All In 81-75 at King Drew Magnet High School, handing one of the Drew League’s unbeaten teams its first loss of the season.
The matchup carried an added family dynamic, with fathers coaching their sons on both sides of the court.
Dawg Pound Coach Elliott, Dave Elliott Jr. and Dom Alexander
All photos: Mynt J
For Dawg Pound, Dave Elliott Jr., No. 4, played under the direction of his father, Coach Elliott. On the opposite sideline, Coach Wally led All In while his son, Marquis Moore, competed on the floor.
Playing for a parent creates a different level of pressure. A player must manage the emotions of being coached by his father while still performing for the team. The father must balance supporting his son with holding him accountable like every other player on the roster.
Both teams handled that dynamic while competing in a close, physical game.
Elliott Jr. finished with a game-high 24 points, 10 rebounds and four assists. His approach was simple.
“It’s just a mindset of coming to win, coming to prove that we are who we say we are and coming out with the W.”
He added that Dawg Pound does not make the weekly drive to Compton simply to participate.
“We all drive down here to Compton every weekend, not just to hoop, but to come away with a win.”
Dawg Pound Executes Late
Dawg Pound opened the game with a 19-17 lead before All In outscored them 21-20 in the second quarter. Dawg Pound still carried a narrow 39-38 advantage into halftime.
Neither team gained separation in the third quarter, with both scoring 22 points. Dawg Pound entered the final period holding a one-point lead.
That is when Dawg Pound closed the door.
They outscored All In 20-15 in the fourth quarter to secure the six-point victory.
Elliott Jr. led the scoring, but Dawg Pound received contributions throughout the roster. Mikah Ballen added 20 points and four assists. Dom Alexander recorded 10 points, four rebounds and three assists, while DeVearl Ramsey added nine points.
Dawg Pound shot 59 percent on its two-point field-goal attempts and made 12 of 14 free throws, an 86 percent performance from the line. The team also finished with 14 assists, six steals and two blocked shots.
All In outrebounded Dawg Pound 38-25 and connected on 11 three-pointers, but Dawg Pound created transition opportunities, moved the ball and converted its free throws.
Coach Elliott credited preparation and trust for the victory.
“I feel great. I feel like I’ve got the best backcourt, along with the other pieces. I just think they were prepared.”
Practicing together has helped Dawg Pound develop chemistry that becomes important during close games.
“The fact that we practice plays a factor. They trust each other. When someone makes a mistake, they already know how to get each other back on point because they’ve been here together.”
That familiarity also benefits him while coaching his son.
“He thinks like I do on the court, so I don’t have to do a lot of talking. We can just make eye contact, and he knows what’s going on.”
He also made sure to recognize Coach Wally, Moore and the rest of All In for pushing Dawg Pound through all four quarters.
“I want to shout out Wally and his men because that was a hell of a game.”
Different Personalities, Same Goal
Elliott Jr. and Alexander bring different styles and personalities to Dawg Pound.
Alexander plays with visible emotion and feeds off the crowd and the energy around the court. Elliott Jr. brings a calmer presence and adjusts his role based on what the team needs.
Alexander explained that he feeds off Elliott Jr. while remaining prepared to contribute in different ways.
“I feed off him, to be honest. He’s been here before me, and I’m here to do whatever he needs.”
That could mean scoring, creating for teammates or handling another assignment.
“If you need me to score, I’m going to score. If you need me to make a play or get an assist, I’m going to do it. We both want to win at all costs, and we’ll do whatever it takes.”
Elliott Jr. had found his rhythm, so the team continued putting him in positions to produce.
“It was his time. He was scoring well, so we kept feeding the hot hand.”
Alexander also credited Coach Elliott for allowing players to work through mistakes instead of immediately pulling them from the game.
That patience is intentional.
“I’m a firm believer in sticking with what’s working and letting everyone else adjust.”
Dawg Pound has used different lineups throughout the season because of injuries and player availability. That forced several players to step into larger roles.
The team is now beginning to understand its identity.
“Our team has a bunch of different personalities. Now, in Week 5 and Week 6, we’re starting to settle into who we are instead of trying to be like other people.”
The roster is also beginning to look more like the team Coach Elliott envisioned.
“I think we’ve got our identity now. I think I have the roster close to what we need it to look like for everyone to be effective.”
All In Earns Respect Despite the Loss
All In’s first loss should not overshadow the level of basketball the team displayed.
Coach Wally’s group controlled the boards, remained dangerous from behind the three-point line and kept the game within one possession through three quarters. Although Marquis Moore, who is typically an effective contributor, was limited to seven points, All In had several players step forward to keep the game competitive.
Dawg Pound simply made more plays when the game reached its closing moments.
The loss gives All In another challenge. Strong teams are not only measured by how long they remain undefeated. They are also measured by how they respond after the streak ends.
No Longer the Underdog
All In entered the game undefeated, but Dawg Pound never played as though it was facing an unbeatable opponent.
Every All In run received an answer. Every mistake created another opportunity. Dawg Pound stayed composed long enough to make All In uncomfortable, then executed when the game reached its most important moments.
The victory was more than another win. Dawg Pound became the team that finally put a loss on All In’s record.
When asked whether Dawg Pound should still be considered an underdog, Elliott Jr. made his position clear.
“I feel like we’re the team to beat.”
For Dawg Pound, the result showed that records do not decide games.
Players do.
People Are Still Sleeping on the Drew
People continue to sleep on the Drew League because they do not always understand how much raw talent enters that gym.
The Drew is filled with players who have heart, pride and something to prove. Some have played in the NBA. Others have competed in the G League, overseas, college, high school or throughout Los Angeles’ deep basketball community.
That combination makes the league a melting pot of basketball generations, styles and experiences.
When you walk into the gym, it may be hot. Sometimes it may be cool. Regardless of the temperature inside the building, the temperature on the court remains high.
Players may already know who they are and what they can do, but the Drew still requires them to prove it against physical defenses, limited whistles and opponents with something of their own to establish.
The league tests talent, but it also tests mental strength, discipline, toughness and the ability to adjust.
Sunday’s matchup represented everything that gives the Drew League its reputation. It featured two fathers coaching their sons, an undefeated team, a challenger refusing to back down and a game that remained undecided until the fourth quarter.
All In entered undefeated.
Dawg Pound made sure they did not leave that way.