By: J. Daniel Pearson
Speed, athleticism and pressure defense have been the hallmarks of the Gateway Panthers girls’ basketball team all season long. All three of them were on display Friday night, as they recorded a 59-19 win over Fivay, in a 5A, Region 2 quarterfinal playoff game.
The win moved the Panthers (24-3) and the top seed in the region, on to a semifinal game next Friday night — where they will face the winner of the Belleview/Leesburg game on Bob Baker Court, beginning at 7 p.m.
Although the game did not start out great for the Panthers, who led just 16-10 after one period and found star point guard Alyssa Marino on the bench with two personal fouls; the final numbers were nothing short of spectacular and dominating.
From the start of the second period to the end of the game – which went to running clock at 6:27 mark of the third period – the Panthers allowed just one field goal over the final 24 minutes. For the game, Fivay shot just 17% (5 of 29) and were forced into 23 turnovers.
Senior Evana Rivera led the charge in the first half—hitting her first seven shots in the game and scoring 15 points. She also had three assists in the period; and with Marino (13 points) and Day (10 points) catching fire Gateway built 27-point advantage at the half, 41-14,
The onslaught would continue early in the third period.
Day scored three quick layups, including two off her own steals, to extend the lead to 33. Bella Davila then canned two-free throws to get to a 35-point lead and start the running clock under the FHSAA “Mercy Rule.”
The 40-point win came despite the Panthers playing without freshman starter YaYa D’Amore (10.6 points per game), who missed the contest while tending to family matters.
Day led all Gateway scorers with 19, Rivera added 18 and Marino had 13.
“It pretty much went the way I thought it would,” Coach Justin Marino said, “I wasn’t particularly happy with our slow start, but I also felt that once we got going, they would have a hard time with our pressure defense.”
Boys basketball takes center stage on Saturday night. Over on Nate Alexander Court, Osceola (21-5) – the number two seed in 7A, Region 3—host Sarasota Riverview (16-10) at 7 p.m. St. Cloud (22-5) and the #8 seed, will try to pull a major upset when it faces #1 seed and perennial state power Oak Ridge (17-9) in a 7A, Region 2 game. Finally, City of Life (21-6) hosts Canterbury (14-7) in a Class 1A, Region 3 playoff game, also at 7 p.m. Check back tomorrow on Positively Osceola for all the results.
