By: Kristy Booher Angelo, Associate Athletic Director
For More Info: booherk@gilmour.org
One of the top teams in the area came to Gates Mills recently for a boys basketball triple header as the Lancers hosted Lutheran High School East. In varsity action, it was Gilmour's toughest challenge to date this season. Trailing just 16-12 midway through the second quarter, Vinny Bandwen '21 (pictured on the left) hit a big 3-pointer to cut the deficit. Ian Miller '20 and Andre Rodgers '21 (pictured on the right) hounded the Falcon backcourt, limiting the guests to just two first-half three-pointers. East used its athleticism to take the lead at the break and then furthered their advantage for a final score of 75-45.
The Lancers rebounded against Padua Franciscan High School, winning the first road game of the season in a North Coast League (NCL) clash 58-50. Connor O'Toole '20 paced the Lancers with 20 points, including four 3-pointers and five assists. Garrett Olsen '20 totaled 15 points, including 10 in the second half. Ben DeMell '21 and Joe Hollis '20 combined for 11 rebounds, while Miller had four steals.
At the junior varsity level, the Lancers remained hot, improving to 4-0 with two wins against Lutheran East and Padua. Against the Falcons, Brandon Rose '23, Adisa Molton '23 and Lucas Grover '22 led the scoring in the first half, contributing a combined 25 points. Grover hit three first-half treys. Michael DiPuccio '22 led the defensive effort, while Dorjan Flowers '23 had five assists. Against Padua, Matt Benisek '21 hit four first-half triples, en route to scoring 19 points. Nathan Flaherty '22 hit a pair of threes while also adding four rebounds as the Lancers led start-to-finish in their first NCL win of the season.
At the freshman level, Gilmour won three games in five days with victories against Lutheran East, Padua and Lutheran West. The Lancers were shorthanded due to injuries and illness, but, nonetheless, found a way to earn their first wins of the season. Jackson Wahl '23 paced the backcourt along with teammate Marcus Berrios '23 in Tuesday night's win over East. Ian Baird '23 led the defensive glass with nine rebounds. Then, in Friday night's win, Wahl made two big three-point shots to pace the Lancers in the first half, while Chad Plucinsky '23 created four steals to lead the way. Molton (31), Baird (20) and Wahl (9) scored early and often in a 75-50 win over West.
In other boys basketball news, varsity player Andre Rodgers '21 was selected as a News-Herald Player of the Week. The starting guard earned the honor after recording 19 points, five assists and four rebounds in the team's recent defeat of Villa Angela-Saint Joseph 78-64. He shot 8-for-11 from the foul line and took two charges.
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