Gates Mills, Ohio - On Friday night the University School Preppers came to face the Gilmour Academy Lancers. Gilmour was 5-6 entering this matchup while University was 8-3. It is notable in this matchup that these schools are just over a mile apart causing a rivalry to form between the two.
Winning the tip was the Preppers but they traveled turning over the possession. Gilmour’s Jimmy Lawless hit a 3-pointer right after this after the student section chanted his name.
The score kept going back and forth with both sides playing aggressive defense. The score at the end of the first was 21-15 in favor of University School.
To start the second, Alec Congdon hit an and-one for the Preppers putting University School up nine. Duke Brennan also got three steals in a row, leading to seven points for University School.
For most of this quarter, University School was up by double digits and didn’t take their foot off of the gas pedal. They had the lead 41-30 at the half.
To start the second half Brady Olsen hit a layup and triple for Gilmour, cutting the deficit to six. Gilmour did cut the lead to four at one point, but University School pushed the lead back out.
Both teams kept shooting shots from outside the arc with a decent amount of success. University was still up double digits 60-50 after three.
To start the fourth both teams were struggling offensively, but soon after the points came in bunches. Gilmour cut the lead to three, but then Justin Belcher hit an and-one and then his teammate got a put back layup after the missed free throw.
The game seemed practically over as University School’s offense kept their foot on the gas to close it out and there wasn’t a lot of time for Gilmour to make a comeback. University came out on top 78-67.
I had a chance to talk with University head coach Sean McDonnell after the game.
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