GATES MILLS, OH— The Gilmour Academy Lancers defeated the Cleveland Central Catholic Ironmen 67-63 at the Gilmour Academy Athletic Complex to hand CCC its first loss of the season. The Lancers have now won five straight contests and boast a record of 5-1, while the Ironmen fall to 4-1.
The highly anticipated battle started off rather slowly, as each team was trying to settle into their rhythm. Neither side brought their best offense early on, as the first two minutes saw only four combined points, two a piece. It was the Lancers who first found their touch, going on a 9-1 run over the course of the next two and a half minutes, being highlighted by a Brayden Titus three that sparked the Lancer crowd. The three-point shot was a common theme, as the Lancers hit four triples. David Pfundstein hit one to make the
score 14-5, Brayden Titus hit another to make it 17-7, and Anthony Atkinson made one to give the Lancers a 15-point advantage, 22-7, what was their largest of the game.
Brayden Titas hits a three for Gilmour in the 1st quarter
The first quarter also saw great defensive effort from Gilmour, as they forced plenty of Ironmen turnovers and turned those manufactured possessions into offense on the other end. Nothing seemed to be working for CCC until the final minute and a half. The Ironmen started to show some impressive defense of their own and went on a mini 4-0 run to close out the first quarter, still trailing 22-11.
The second quarter say back-and-forth basketball, as the Lancers started off the quarter strong, but a made basket off an offensive rebound from the Ironmen’s Deonte James, coupled with a Pfundstein foul, sent James to the line for a three-point play, getting the CCC fans on their feet. The seesawing action continued, and then the star for the Ironmen, King Young, started to get hot. With four points already to his name and his team needing a spark, he launched a deep shot from NBA range to cut the lead down to 10, 31-21.
However, an unfortunate theme for this game from the Ironmen’s perspective was anytime they went on a run, Gilmour had an answer. Right after that made triple by Young, Brayden Titus answered right back with a three of his own to put the lead back at 13.
The Ironmen were able to cut the lead to single digits, and then the Lancers’ Mikey Holt fouled Young on a three-point attempt. Young made all three free throws to leave the lead at only six with 1:08 left in the half. The Lancers responded to this run as well, as they finished the quarter on a mini 4-0 run of their own to go into the locker room up 10.
The third quarter started slow, with no points being scored throughout the first two minutes. The drought was broken by Young who hit another pro-level triple to put the lead back to single digits, 42-35. Both sides traded beyond-the-arc shots all quarter, and a couple of defensive stops led the Ironmen to close the gap to five heading into the fourth quarter, 51-46.
David Pfundstein from hits from deep to end a possession in the 3rd quarter
Again, the final frame was slow offensively at the beginning, until Zac Titus received good pass from a teammate to put the Lancers up seven. The very next possession Ken’Dell Sheffield hit a three for the Ironmen to cut back into the Gilmour advantage. With four minutes and some change left, Gilmour started to show off their ball movement skills. After some traded baskets, the Lancers essentially played keep-away for a good 45 seconds before a Pfundstein floater put the Lancers back up seven, 58-51, with 3:30 to play. The Lancer defense then got put back on display, as they forced back-to-back turnovers the next
two possessions, and after more great passing, capped off both plays with buckets, stretching the lead back into double figures with just over two minutes remaining.
Young hit some more deep treys as the Ironmen made it a late battle, but the comeback fell short, as free throws and more good defense iced the game for the Lancers by a score of 67-63.
Pfundstein led the way for the Lancers with 23 points and two triples, and Young led the scoring for the Ironmen as the only player in double figures with an impressive 27 points, 15 of those coming from beyond the arc.
The Lancers will next be against the Notre Dame-Cathedral Latin Lions on Monday, Dec. 23 in Chardon, OH while the Ironmen will be facing the Maple Heights Mustangs in Maple Heights, OH on Sunday, Dec. 22.
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