Gavilan’s men’s basketball team was as stubborn as a ram running
head first into a wall Tuesday night.
Gavilan’s men’s basketball team was as stubborn as a ram running head first into a wall Tuesday night.
Turning the ball over more than ten times in the second half – mostly through weak passes and traveling violations against the Merced College Blue Devils’ full-court press – it looked like Gavilan was about to give away the game.
Luckily for the Rams (3-4), the team was able to break through the pressure in the final minutes to preserve a 59-58 victory at Bill Christopher Court.
“We have some stuff to talk about over Thanksgiving dinner,” Gavilan Coach Tito Addison joked after the game.
Missing point guard John Williams, who broke his thumb in the Consumnes River Tournament last weekend, the Blue Devils (1-4) used a cast of athletes to pick off Gavilan passes while sitting back in a 2-2-1 press.
With 1:41 to play, the Blue Devils took their first lead of the game when Justin Sparks drove for a layup, making the score 58-57.
Rams guard Andre McConnel responded by slashing to the basket with 24 seconds left to draw a foul. McConnel made both free throws, his only points of the game, to give the lead back to Gavilan before a last-second shot by Julius Cheeks clanged off the rim.
Sophomore Jesse LoBue led the Rams with 22 points and 9 rebounds, but had to sit with 3:40 remaining after picking up his fifth foul. Scott Benson (8 points and 12 rebounds) did an excellent job helping out on the boards without the 6-foot-7-inch LoBue, while also converting a timely layup in the final minutes. Gavilan’s Luke Murrell contributed off the bench with 8 points and made the biggest play of the game defensively, drawing a charge with 49 seconds left to setup McConnel’s free throws.
