On Saturday, Feb. 13 at the Walsh Center gym, the two Gate of Heaven CYO intermediate basketball teams battled each other, and when the final buzzer sounded, it was Coach Bryan Van Dorpe’s boys who went home on top, 52-49.
It was the Gatey blue shirts versus the Gatey white shirts for Southie bragging rights. It was a close contest for the first 10 minutes of play and with 10:27 remaining in the first half, Gatey white led by five. But then the Gatey blue team went on an 11-1 run to take a 21-17 lead at the half.
In the opening minutes of the second half, Gatey white scored on their first two possessions to tie it up, 21-21. Gatey white continued to maintain the momentum, firing on all cylinders, and with 8:59 left, they led, 45-36. Gatey blue wasn’t about to close down shop and went on a 10-0 run to take the lead, 47-45. Then, with 2:34 left on the game clock, it was tied, 47-47, but Gatey white eked out the victory by outscoring Gatey white, 5-2, in the final minute.
For Gatey white, Ben O’Brien was in the zone as he netted 20 points, including four three pointers. Sean Collins scored 14 points while Patrick Lynch had 10 points. For Gatey blue, Phil Hayes was a monster on the boards and scored 18 points, while Sean Schallmo finished with 14 points.
“It was an intense game,” said Gate of Heaven Athletic Director Kevin Lally. “Both teams have some talented players and they know how each other play since they’re always shooting hoops in the gym when they’re not playing actual games. They don’t like to lose but aren’t sore losers, (they) have pride…and play hard every time they step onto the court.”
The Gate of Heaven CYO intermediate team coached by Joe Kelly and Jackie Higgins (not pictured). The players are Phil Hayes, Patrick Kelly, Chris Skerry, Sean Schallmo, James Schallmo, Patrick Morris, and Matt McDonnell. Players not pictured: Chris DiMaggio, Mike Bolstad, Nico Suarez, and Mike Arcadipane.
