How big is finishing a quarter strong in high school basketball?
On Friday night at Franklin Regional, it was huge for visiting Gateway.
The Gators (9-7, 7-3) got a driving layup from junior Jacob Settles to finish the first quarter, a driving layup from junior Mykel Bruce-McCrommon to finish the second quarter, but it was junior Daniel Bozicevic’s 3-pointer to end the third quarter that was a dagger in a 64-53 victory against Franklin Regional in a Section 1-5A contest.
Gateway coach Alvis Rogers, who played college ball at Wake Forest, said his team works hard on running down the clock and getting the final shot of a quarter. It proved to be the difference in a game both teams needed to stay in the WPIAL playoff hunt. Franklin Regional dropped to 7-10, 3-7.
“We’re still trying to chase for the section title,” Rogers said. “We need to take care of business and get someone to knock off Uniontown and Latrobe.”
Gateway’s pressure defense in the first quarter had Franklin Regional rushing shots and turning the ball over. The Panthers missed at least five layups in the first quarter as Gateway grabbed a 16-8 lead.
That lead stretched to 24-8 early in the second quarter before the Panthers found their rhythm.
“You cannot fall behind 24-8 against a team like that and expect to win,” Franklin Regional coach Jesse Reed said. “We came out flat, sluggish and they kind of took it to us early.
“We found our groove, and then every time we got close, they made a play.”
Bruce-McCrommon, who scored 19 points in the first meeting Dec. 20, scored 16 of his game-high 22 points as Gateway went up 35-24 at halftime.
Gateway did a good job concentrating on Franklin Regional senior Connor Crossey, who was coming off a big game against McKeesport. Crossey was limited to seven points.
Picking up the slack for the Panthers was senior Jonah Johnston, who scored 10 of his 16 points in the first half.
Franklin Regional played with more intensity in the second half and got to within 28-19 before Gateway’s Bozicevic drained a 3-pointer.
Then Panthers sophomore Anthony Mitchell got hot in the second half, and he answered with a 3-pointer. He finished with 16 points, 11 in the second half.
“Daniel’s 3-pointer seemed to stop their run and gave us back the momentum,” Rogers said. “Our goal from the onset was to get out and play hard defense. I felt we did a good job.”
The Panthers pulled within 44-39 on a basket by Mitchell before a tip-in by Jacob Settles, who finished with 13, but Bozicevic’s 3-pointer pushed the lead back to 49-40.
“We came out in the second half and competed,” Reed said. “I mean we were physical, and guys were diving on the floor for loose balls. There is still a lot of basketball to play.”
Both teams have four games left, and the WPIAL is taking five teams from their section to the playoffs. Franklin Regional hopes to be one of those five, while Gateway is holding out hope a section title.