By PAUL GOTHAM
ROCHESTER, N.Y. — Gavin Williams scored eight of his 18 points in the fourth quarter when Greece Odyssey rallied to defeat host Eastridge, 57-53 in Monroe County Division IV action, Wednesday night.
Williams accounted for two baskets and an assist as the Leopards closed the game on a 7-0 run.
“We talk about taking punches and punching back; that’s exactly what these guys did,” said Odyssey head coach Gamal Gilchrist. “It started with Gavin Williams on defense and then it just trickled down to the rest of the guys. Everybody else bought in on defense.”
Trailing 53-50 with less than 2:21 remaining in the contest, Williams finished a drive from the wing in traffic and then set up teammate Michael Cathey next trip down the floor for the go-ahead basket.
“It’s all about growth,” Gilchrist said. “We’ve been preaching family and it came down to staying together and not giving up.”
Williams followed with a pull-up jumper in the lane to extend the lead to three at 56-53 with 23.1 seconds left on the clock.
“We got our energy from our defense,” Williams said. “That’s what we’ve been working on all season, and that’s how we won tonight.”
The win was the fifth in the past six games for Odyssey (9-8) and avenged an earlier loss as Eastridge took the first meeting between the two teams, 73-58.
“They’ve done everything that myself and our coaching staff has asked of them – everything in the classroom to everything on the floor,” Gilchrist said. “It just shows that they’re listening. I couldn’t be prouder of these guys. This is the best group that I’ve ever had. I trust in them, and I believe in them. The sky’s the limit for them.”
Gavin Williams grabs his own miss and converts. @Ody_Athletics is within 5 at 46-41. @SecVBBasketball pic.twitter.com/CugoHt3gJb
— Paul Gotham (@PickinSplinters) February 6, 2025
Michael Cathey grabs a loose ball and goes the length for two. We are tied with 5:11 to go: @Ody_Athletics 46 @EastridgeHoops 46 pic.twitter.com/SJD4EpvwZk
— Paul Gotham (@PickinSplinters) February 6, 2025
Gavin Williams, steal and layup. @Ody_Athletics 48-46. pic.twitter.com/l02njLC8AQ
— Paul Gotham (@PickinSplinters) February 6, 2025
Eastridge (6-9) took a 30-26 lead into halftime and scored the first seven of the third quarter. Back-to-back 3-pointers from Larry Wigent and Brailon Johnson gave the Lancers a double-digit lead at 37-26.
The lead was still nine at 44-35 when Jordan McNeil finished in the lane.
Cathey grabbed a defensive rebound and went the length of the floor to tie game at 46.
On the next possession, Williams gave Odyssey its first lead of the second half when he converted a steal and layup.
Wigent responded with a basket. Johnson hit a three and followed with a layup for a 53-50 Eastridge lead.
Brailon Johnson connects from the corner. @EastridgeHoops 51-50 with 2:21 remaining @SecVBBasketball pic.twitter.com/tzDg5qLC79
— Paul Gotham (@PickinSplinters) February 6, 2025
Cathey finished with 18 points and 15 rebounds for his 15th double-double of the season.
Eastridge travels to play at Mendon on Friday. A 7:15 p.m. tip-off is scheduled.
Odyssey hosts Early College next Monday for a 7:00 p.m. start time.
GREECE ODYSSEY (9-8)
Jayson Figueroa 2 1-2 6, Lee Sanchez 0 1-2 1, Kingston Santiago 3 1-2 9, Michael Cathey 8 2-4 18, Elijah Burgio 0 0-0 0, Phoenix Decker 1 0-0 3, Gavin Williams 8 1-2 18, Jahvez Jones 1 0-0 2, Anthony Johnson 0 0-0 0 TOTALS 23 6-12 — 57
EASTRIDGE (6-9)
Myron Stamps 5 0-0 10, Brailon Johnson 5 1-2 13, Jeremiah Morales Diaz 3 0-0 8, Isaiah Nelson 1 2-2 5, Mason Lashway 1 0-0 2, Larry Wigent 4 1-2 11, Jordan McNeil 2 0-2 4 TOTALS 21 4-8 — 53
GREECE ODYSSEY 19 7 13 18 — 57
EASTRIDGE 14 16 16 7 — 53
3-point goals: GREECE ODYSSEY 5 (Figueroa 1, Santiago 2, Decker 1, Williams 1); EASTRIDGE 7 (Johnson 2, Morales Diaz 2, Nelson 1, Wigent 2).
Leave a Reply