Published Wednesday, February 03, 2010 9:26 AM
Updated Wednesday, February 03, 2010 1:58 PM
The Stags had a chance to win the game with the ball in the hands of their main man Bruce Ellington, but a charging foul called with just 1.1 seconds left killed any Berkeley rally.
The Gators were quick out of the gate jumping out to a 23-18 first quarter lead behind Wright’s 13 first quarter points. Wright scored 18 of his game high 23 points in the first half and was held to just five points in the second half.
But Wright made the big ones count when he needed them most.
For the Stags D.J. Harrison canned nine of his 15 points – on three three-pointers in the first quarter.
The game was a seesaw battle with Goose Creek going on a 9-0 in the second quarter, but Berkeley would battle back to knot the score 38-38 going into the locker room at the half.
The start of the third quarter proved sluggish for both teams, as Berkeley didn’t score until four minutes into the quarter on a Victor Williams lay-up. But the Gators couldn’t capitalize only scoring six points in that same stretch.
In the fourth quarter the Stags and Gators played leapfrog until R.J. Robinson’s put-back with 13 seconds left in the game gave Berkeley a 59-58 lead, setting the stage for Robinson's winning free-throws.
Devontae Wright led all scorers with 23 points and Robinson followed with 16 points to pace the Gators.
In the girls game, the Lady Gators continue to steamroll through the regular season, blowing out the Lady Stags 56-23.
These continued blowouts have coach Tim Baldwin a little concerned about the upcoming playoffs.
“I’m concerned that we won’t be able to turn on the momentum when we’re challenged in a close game and we have to make that clutch basket or defensive stop,” he said. “There are teams out there right now who we may face in the playoffs that are fighting tooth and nail in their region schedules. They’re going to be playoff ready.”
The upside to the Lady Gators’ regular season has been the playing time he’s been able to give his team up and down the roster.
“They’re getting games minutes which will definitely help,” Baldwin said.