AURORA — A year ago, Palmer and Reggie Jackson nipped Gateway and O’Rion Hughes 70-67 in a memorable, star-fueled Class 5A second- round matchup in Colorado Springs.
On Saturday night, the programs delivered again in the same postseason round, but with vastly different rosters, another setting and a reverse outcome.
Behind relentless front-court play that attacked the glass like bugs on a windshield, host Gateway held off Palmer 57-54 in overtime in what may have surpassed the 2008 meeting in terms of intensity. Physical play was permitted for both sides. Neither had a problem with it.
“(The Terrors) are young, but athletic, and I knew they would come after us like we did against them last year,” Gateway coach Jeff Sweet said after his Olympians (20-4) advanced to face once-beaten George Washington in the Sweet 16. “It was Saturday night with a good crowd, and this is why you do it.”
Ultimately, Gateway’s balance and inside play decided it. John Collins (13 points) provided a share of offense at guard, but the Olympians’ inside wave, notably Josh Pleasant (12 points, 13 rebounds, five blocked shots), Larry Riley (12 points, eight rebounds) and George Berling (10 points, five rebounds), was able to overcome Palmer, which dressed one senior, yet wouldn’t roll over.
The Terrors (12-13) trailed 45-35 with 4:05 to play in the fourth quarter, but scored the final 10 points of regulation.
In overtime, Gateway led 56-52, but here came Palmer again, getting within two points with less than a minute to play and having a chance to tie before being called for an offensive foul.
The Terrors, led by Zach Hawkins’ 17 points, never got off a last-second attempt to tie.
“I couldn’t be any more proud of these kids,” veteran Terrors coach Jimmy Grantz said.
Palmer 17 6 7 15 9 — 54
Gateway 16 11 10 8 12 — 57
Palmer — Hawkins 6 2-2 17, A. Brown 2 2-3 6, Little 2 0-0 6, Wright 2 4-9 8, Deese 0 0-0 0, Rufran 0 0-0 0, T. Brown 4 6-9 15, Urbaniak 1 0-0 2. Totals 17 14-23 54.
Gateway — Pleasant 4 4-6 12, Gibson 0 1-2 1, Witherspoon 0 0-0 0, Collins 3 5-6 13, Brever 1 0-0 3, Berling 4 2-6 10, Roybal 2 2-5 6, Riley 3 6-10 12. Totals 17 20-35 57.
3-pt. goals: Hawkins 3, Little 2, Brown; Collins 2, Brever. Total fouls — Palmer 23, Gateway 19. Fouled out — A. Brown. Technicals — None.
