The Olympians looked downright Herculean in their Sweet 16 showdown Wednesday against Durango.
Gateway scored the game’s first 11 points, using a combination of 3-pointers, drives to the hoop, steals and a lot of speed, and that momentum carried the Olympians to a 75-65 victory over the Demons in the RW Truscott Region of the Class 5A boys basketball tournament at Manual’s Thunderdome.
From the opening tip, which Gateway won and turned into two quick points, the Olympians were in control and running at top speed.
“We got ourselves prepared, and we dictated the tempo. … It’s a backbreaker (to go up 11-0), and our defense is always the key,” Gateway’s Greg Bolling said.
Bolling scored 20 points and Trevor Oliver had 18 for Gateway (19-6), and O’Rion Hughes finished with 10 points and seven rebounds.
Durango (20-5) looked uncharacteristically sloppy in the early going with turnovers and lax defense, but the Demons regained their footing and outscored Gateway 45-36 in the second half. It wasn’t enough.
“I’m nothing but proud of our kids,” Durango coach Tim Fitzpatrick said. “Most people don’t understand what it’s like to get on a bus and travel eight hours. The kids eat fast food and sleep in hotel beds. We are at a major disadvantage.”
Eric Larkin scored 22 of his game-high 26 points in the second half, when the Demons cut what was a 21-point lead to 11 with 3:37 left to play. Durango’s Sam Phippen, a 6-foot-9 senior, was held to nine points but finished with 14 rebounds, and Matt Morris had nine points.
Gateway took an 18-6 lead after the first quarter and led by 19 at the half. Larkin’s hot hand helped reduce the deficit, but every time the Demons looked to rally, Gateway hit a big shot. The Olympians also hit 9-of-10 free throws in the fourth quarter.
“We just had to weather the storm, and then we were able to pull through with our free throws,” Oliver said.
Durango 6 14 18 27 – 65
Gateway 18 21 15 21 – 75
Durango – Ruetschle 2 0-0 5, Sansoni 1 0-0 2, Morris 2 5-9 9, Phippen 3 3-4 9, Larkin 9 5-6 26, Kulovitz 2 2-2 7, Lewis 1 0-0 2, Curtis 0 0-0 0, Stastny 1 1-2 4, Lujan 0 1-2 1, Dunne 0 0-0 0. Totals 21 17-25 65.
Gateway – Bolling 7 5-6 20, Oliver 7 4-5 18, Jack 3 0-0 9, Hughes 5 0-1 10, Smith 1 0-0 3, Gainey 4 1-1 9, McMullin 0 0-0 0, Bellachmi 3 0-0 6, Goggins 0 0-0 0, Singh 0 0-0 0. Totals 30 10-13 75.
3-pt. goals – Larkin 3, Ruetschle, Kulovitz, Stastny; Jack 3, Bolling, Smith. Total fouls – Durango 16; Gateway 20. Fouled out – Morris. Technical – Hughes.
