Lake County Sentinel
Skippers outlast Braves in overtime 59-56
BY TIM SHIRER
SPORTS EDITOR
On December 6 the Fairport Harding Skippers boys’ basketball team (4-9) traveled to Badger High School (11-1) to take on the Braves and it didn’t end well as the Braves pounded the Skippers 80-37. Fast forward 42 days to Fairport Harding’s Brown Gymnasium and the team that could have easily mailed this one in after losing by 43 in the first meeting the Skippers did anything but as they beat the Braves 59-56 on a three-point buzzer beater in overtime sending Badger home stunned.
The game was close throughout, a defensive battle as both teams seemed focus on the other squad’s scoring threat. Badger leading scorer who torched Fairport in their first meeting Duncan Moy was the Skipper’s target defensively. The problem for the Braves was they had to stop two Skipper scorers Senior Josue Castellano and Junior James Gadomski. Gadomski did not play in the first meeting. In the first meeting the Skippers were also missing Senior playmaker and three-point threat Jeremy Sundman.
The first period ended with Fairport on top 14-10. Castellano and Gadomski were held to only three points, a three pointer by Castellano. Meanwhile Moy scored six of Badger’s 10 points.
The Second quarter was even closer as Badger outscored Fairport 10-9 cutting Fairport’s lead to 23-20 at halftime. The Skipper held Moy to only two points on two free throws. Gadomski and Castellano were held to five points Gadomski scored five and Castellano was held scoreless and entered the break with three points. It looked as though Badger’s plan was working, but they still trailed by three points.
The game was physical and a battle of the boards as both teams were up to the task getting multiple shots on missed baskets. The Braves outscored the Skippers 16-13 in the third and the game was tied 36-36 after 24 minutes. Moy had his best quarter of the contest scoring seven points. Gadomski and Castellano combined for nine points, five of which were Gadomski’s. Fairport junior Josh Parsons started to heat up for the Skippers he had two points in the period and now had six in the game.
The fourth quarter was once again a low scoring defensive battle as the two teams combined for only 28 points. In the quarter Gadomski had just two points on two free throws, Castellano was held scoreless. Meanwhile Moy was held to only just five points in the final quarter of regulation. But Parsons came alive and led all scorers in the fourth with seven of his 13 points in the game. After 32 minutes the game was tied 50-50.
The overtime period was just like the first four quarters a defensive fight and neither team could get any separation in the scoring column. With :04.1 left on the clock in overtime and the game tied 56-56 the Skippers inbounded the ball it appeared Castellano would take a three, but instead made a short pass to Gadomski who was at least seven feet behind the three-point line. Gadomski launched the three and it hit nothing but net giving the Skippers the 59-56 win as time ran out on the Braves.
Moy led all scorers in the game with 22 points in the losing effort. Gadomski led the Skippers with 19 points including seven of the Skippers nine points in the overtime.
The Skippers (5-9) will be in action next on Friday when they travel to Bristol to play the Panthers (8-6) at 7 pm.
POSTED 01/17/2022 23:13
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