By TIM IRVING
Gates Chili boys basketball had a 60-49 lead heading into the fourth quarter against Rush-Henrietta and things looked bleak for the Royal Comets.
“We had a plan, we had to change our plan and it worked…doesn’t always work, but it worked today,” said R-H coach Chris Reed after his team went on a 21-7 run and stunned the Spartans, 77-72.
The win locks up the fourth seed for Rush-Henrietta, meaning a home game in the first round of Sectionals.
A devastating press, spearheaded by Nasir Hunter and Mason Giorgione prevented Gates from getting their half-court offense set up.
Chris Sleeper scored five straight points inside to cut the Gates lead to 67-62 midway through the fourth quarter, then the defense took over. Hunter and Gabriel Wright scored on steals, Wright’s lay-up with 2:24 to play gave R-H the lead, 68-67.
Giorgione then scored on another steal for a 70-67 lead.
After a Devon Payton baseline drive cut the lead to one, the Spartans looked like they had possession back on an alternating possession but Rush-Henrietta had the arrow.
With the shot clock running out, Giorgione stepped back and stuck a three-point dagger that locked it up.
“Mason’s a very good player, he’s in a league of a lot of good players and sometimes he gets lost but he is capable of doing that,” Reed said of his junior guard.
Sleeper, Hunter and Giorgione combined for 20 of the Royal Comets 28 points in the fourth quarter. Giorgione finishing with 15 and Sleeper with 13 points.
Tobey Wright led the Royal Comets with 16 points, 13 of them coming in the first half as Rush-Henrietta built a 35-31 halftime lead. Adam Williams dominated play for the Spartans with 16 in the first 16 minutes but Gates’ shooters struggled and Andrew Newcombe didn’t score at all in the first half.
That changed in the third quarter. Kobe McCray hit three three-pointers, Newcombe scored all eight of his points in the third and Williams threw down his second dunk of the game as the Spartans built a double-digit lead.
Early in the fourth, Payton run off five straight points and Williams had another dunk as the lead got to 67-53.
Gates didn’t score again until Payton’s basket with under two minutes to play.
“We feel that, on a given night, we can play with anybody but there are teams that have maybe more natural talent and I think Gates is clearly one of them,” Reed said.
The Class AA Sectional Tournament is as wide open as ever, so for the Royal Comets (7-5) to get a home game, is big.
“We avoided having to go to Aquinas and they’re one of the teams that I think can go all the way but, everybody’s good though, what are your choices? You can go either play Gates, Victor…everybody’s good, it’s gonna be a competitive tournament for sure.”
SCORING:
Rush-Henrietta
Jalen House (9), Mason Giorgione (15), Chad Thomas (3), Nasir Hunter (8), Gabe Wright (13), Tobey Wright (16), Chris Sleeper (13).
Gates Chili
Devon Payton (12), Kobe McCray (17), Blake Siplin (4), Spencer Glenn (8), Andrew Newcombe (8), Adam Williams (23).
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