Tony Isabel scored 27 points and collected 18 rebounds helping Team Gallup-Druziak to a 59- 46 win over Team Moller in the 9th – 12th Grade Boys division championship game in Amsterdam Recreation Basketball league at Bacon Elementary School gym on Wednesday night.
Team Gallup-Druziak started the contest on a 10-0 run keyed by baskets from Isabel and Greyson Mullins. Team Moller would respond with Mike Gracia and Anfernee Sanchez connecting on three point shots and would eventually narrow the lead to 20-18. A basket by Mike Johnson pushed the lead to 22-18 in favor of Gallup-Druziak, but Team Moller would chip away at the lead as the teams traded baskets until an ‘alley -oop’ basket and free throw by Uriayah Plaskett tied the game at 28-28. Plaskett later grabbed a rebound and put it back for the 30-28 lead. Less than a minute later Steve McGillin grabbed a rebound and put it back to tie the game once again. A free throw by Desmond Sanchez gave Team Moller the lead, but Mullins flew down court in the closing seconds of the half to score giving Gallup-Druziakk the lead 32-31. Isabel had 12 points in the half. He and his teammates would need to step up in the second half as Team Moller would go on a run of its own early.
“I think our intensity was much more in the second half,” Team Gallup-Druziak coach Julian Gallup said. “We started making shots and it was just a matter of time.”
Team Moller went on a 10-0 run to start the second half keyed by points from Sanchez, Devon Valentin and Brian Trevares. The lead was 41-32 in favor of team Moller but, a change was coming and Team Gallup Druziak went on a 16-2 run of their own keyed by a relentless defense and outstanding guard play.
“We had a better defense in the second half,” coach Gallup said. “We had a good full court press.”
The press intercepted several Team Moller passes and kept them from any fast break chances. Meanwhile Isabel and Jared Gallup were making their jump shots count. After Gallup cut the lead to 43-39, Isabel hit the next three shots and gave Team Gallup-Druziak the lead for good. A basket by Devin Dzikowicz pushed the lead to 48-43 and Gallup’s three-point basket made it 51-43. Team Gallup -Druziak outscored Team Moller 27-15 in the second half.
“We were getting the open shot and getting everyone the ball,” Team Gallup-Druziak coach Andrew Druziak said. “Himeng Kumar was a key reason on defense.”
Kumar, Johnson, McGillin and their teammates were tipping away passes that turned into points for Team Gallup-Druziak.. Isabel”s 15 points in the second half had plenty of assists attached. In the end Team Gallup Druziak celebrated. Dzikowicz and Mullins finished with 10 points each, Jared Gallup had eight points and Johnson and McGillin finished with two apiece.
Gracia led Team Moller with 11 points. Devon Valentin and Desmond Sannchez had 10 each, Plaskett (6pts.), Anfernee Valentin (5pts.) and Brian Trevares (4pts.) rounded out the scoring. Joe Krutz, Johnathan Torres, and Neftali Gomez all played well for their team.
The 9th -12th Boys division was sponsored by Wishful Thinking and MVP Healthcare.
