By: Kristy Booher Angelo, Associate Athletic Director
For More Info: booherk@gilmour.org
The varsity boys basketball team split a two-game week on the road with a 20-point victory against Chagrin Falls and a loss to crosstown rival University School. Against the Tigers, a powerful fourth quarter allowed Gilmour to gain a double-digit advantage 69-49. The Lancers were led by Ben DeMell '21 (pictured on the left), who recorded the first double-double of his career with 17 points, 12 rebounds and four assists. Connor O'Toole '20 added 19 points and eight assists, while Ryan Mueller '22 came off the bench to pull down six rebounds. Brandon Rose '23 (pictured on the right) was also huge off the bench, scoring eight points and grabbing five rebounds.
In the team's defeat, Garrett Olsen '20 was tasked with defending US's leading scorer.
According to head coach Dan DeCrane, he did a phenomenal job holding that player to eight points under his season average, while scoring 14 points himself, which included a trio of 3-pointers. O'Toole led the Lancers with six assists and six rebounds, while DeMell and Andre Rodgers '21 also pulled down six boards. Rodgers grabbed three steals and Ian Miller '20 scored eight points to go along with four rebounds, three assists and two steals.
The junior varsity team had a challenging week, going 1-2 and defeating US for the second time this season but losing to Chagrin Falls and Lorain. Matt Benisek '21 won the Cleveland Am Pro Team Most Valuable Player honor in the loss to Lorain for scoring 17 points to go along with five assists. Adisa Molton '23 added 15 points and Dorjan Flowers '23 had seven points and five assists. Against US, Benisek made five 3-pointers and went 7-for-10 from the line to finish with a team-high 22 points. Molton tallied 12 points, four steals and four assists, while Nathan Nootbaar '22 had 10 points and seven rebounds. Flowers chipped in five points and five rebounds, while Michael DiPuccio '22 played great defense the entire night. In the Chagrin game, Molton totaled 22 points for the Lancers, making four three-point shots. Benisek added 11 points and Flowers contributed eight points, four assists and three steals. DiPuccio grabbed seven rebounds, while Ryan Hoyt '21 had four steals.
On the freshman level, after losing to Chagrin Falls on the road, the Lancers bounced back to defeat rival University School for a season sweep. Mason Albano '23, Chad Plucinsky '23 and Charlie Snelling '23 led the way against US in assists, rebounds and scoring, respectively. Great outside shooting by Marcus Berrios '23 and Jackson Wahl '23 helped extend an early lead. Jacob Lowery '23 came off the bench to add great interior defense as Ian Baird '23 added four steals.
In other basketball news, the Lancers have just one regular-season home game remaining as the they host John F. Kennedy Catholic School on Friday, February 21. The junior varsity game tips off at 5:30 p.m. with the varsity game at approximately 7 p.m. It is Senior Night, as well as Coaches vs. Cancer Night. There will be a special senior recognition ceremony immediately following the conclusion of the JV game at approximately 6:30 p.m. The seniors from boys basketball, as well as cheerleading and gymnastics, will be recognized. There will also be a special Coaches vs. Cancer announcement during the opening festivities of the varsity game, in addition to a special presentation to a Lancer boys basketball record holder. Commemorative long-sleeve shirts will be sold in the Athletic Center lobby during the JV game and up through halftime of the varsity game with proceeds benefiting the American Cancer Society. Cost of the shirts are $15.
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