Lawmakers best 'Hoya Lawyas' in hoops

Capitol Hill’s Angels, a basketball team composed mainly of members of Congress, beat the Hoya Lawyas Georgetown Law School faculty squad Wednesday night in the 24th Annual Home Court Challenge benefit match. The final score was 61-49.
 
The match-up was held before a packed gymnasium at Trinity College in Northeast Washington, and the evening raised more than $400,000 for the Washington Legal Clinic for the Homeless.

The night’s biggest winner was Aladdin Jaloudi, a law student who won a raffle and made a half-court shot on his first attempt, netting him a cool $10,000 in prize money.
 
Following a loss last year to the Lawyas, the Hill’s Angels added a number of new players this time, notably Education Secretary Arne Duncan; President Obama’s personal aide, Reggie Love; and Sen. Scott Brown (R-Mass.). Rounding out the squad were co-captains Sens. John Thune (R-S.D.) and Bob Casey Jr. (D-Pa.), Reps. Andre Carson (D-Ind.), Cedric Richmond (D-La.), Laura Richardson (D-Calif.), Gene Green (D-Texas), Jeff Flake (R-Ariz.) and Mike McIntyre (D-N.C.), and staffers Nat Hoopes and Amanda Renteria.
 
The trio of Brown, Love and Duncan dominated early, putting the Hill’s Angels up 23-7 after eight minutes of play.
 
But the Lawyas came back late in the first half, cutting the Angels’ lead to eight points, for a score of 30-22 at halftime.
 
Play resumed with an impressive three-pointer (nothing but net) by Thune, prompting the Lawyas to call a timeout. A minute later, Duncan followed up with a three-pointer of his own.
 
It was then that a break was called, and Jaloudi’s raffle number was read over the loudspeaker. After signing a waiver, the second-year law student took his only half-court shot. The perfect basket never even touched the rim.
 
Jaloudi’s shot sent the mostly student crowd into a frenzy, and he got high-fives from everyone on the court. A staff member later explained that the prize money would be paid by an insurance policy, which was donated by a sponsor, and based on the 25-to-1 odds that an amateur would make a half-court shot.
 
Back on the court, Brown made two free throws with just under five minutes to play, bringing the tally to 54-43 for the Hill’s Angels.
 
Flake was called for traveling at the three-minute mark and came out of the game, leaving a Hill’s Angels dream team to wind down the clock: Duncan, Love, Brown, Thune and Casey.
 
From that point, there was little doubt about the game’s outcome. Love scored a three-pointer, Thune made a crisp behind-the-back pass and Brown went to the line after being fouled on a lay-up, hitting both shots to bring the final score to 61-49.
 
On the sidelines, Rep. Sheila Jackson Lee (D-Texas) was the Angel’s No. 1 fan, arriving 10 minutes after the game started.
 
After giving every player on the bench a high-five, Jackson Lee looked up at the stands. “There are a lot more fans rooting for the lawyers’ team. But with my loud voice, I’m going to have to really shout for the lawmakers.”
 
And shout she did, more than once jumping up and down and waving her scarf.
 
Following the game, players mingled with fans and lawmakers signed autographs. Casey was in high spirits: “This was a really fun game and a great win, and it was great to have a little help.”
 
For his part, Love said he was happy to play with the Capitol Hill folks this year, after having played with the Lawyas team in 2010. “Any time I get a chance to play with guys like Arne [Duncan], it’s just great.”
 
McIntyre said the addition of Brown, Duncan and Love “gave us all a boost of confidence.”
 
Nevertheless, the North Carolina Democrat confessed that his favorite moment of the evening was his own turn in the spotlight. “I had the first assist of the game, to [Sen. Scott] Brown!”

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For pictures of the event click here.