Exciting Championship Games Wrap Up Local Winter Basketball League
By STEVE GALLUZZO | Sports Editor
The large and small gyms were rocking on Sunday at the Palisades Recreation Center, where the winter basketball season came to an end with five exciting championship games, highlighted by an overtime thriller between the Warriors and Grizzlies for the Co-Ed Mimor Division title.
Coach Scott Ridgley’s Grizzlies prevailed 24-22 in the large gym to avenge their tough defeat in the regular season. Guard JJ Ward stole a pass at midcourt and scored a breakaway layup to put the Grizzlies ahead 24-22 with six seconds left in overtime and they held on to win.
Rounding out the Grizzlies’ roster were Henry Crump, Jack Plotkowski, Colin Ridgley, Graham Doble, Wyatt Schinto, Xavier Burkett, Tyler Bunn, Carter Branch and Connor Branch.
In the Co-Ed Major Division, the 76ers, coached by Bill Lawrence, beat the Knicks 36-30, also in the large gym.
Kai Campos, Dillon Khoubian and Henry Simon led the way for the 76ers while Johan Stokes, Luke Jacobs and Dylan Iwanyk paced the upstart Knicks, who had knocked off the third-seeded Celtics and second-seeded Cavaliers en route to the final. Stokes, Campos, Jacobs and Simon will represent Palisades in the upcoming Citywide All-Star Tournament.
Another tense game that came down to the wire was in the Co-Ed Bantam Division, where Coach Jeff Konecke’s Orangemen edged the Golden Eagles, 22-20 in the small gym. Ryan Freeman hit four clutch free throws at the end. Max Konecke led the Orangemen in scoring. Lucas May led the Golden Eagles in scoring.
The Girls Minor Division title game featured an All-SEC matchup pitting the Bulldogs against the Crimson Tide in the large gym and Coach Hayden Roush’s Bulldogs pulled away for a 20-10 win.
The Bulldogs consisted of Cole Ovsiowitz, Caroline Crane, Sophia Cotter, Trista Federman, Sophioa Waters, Olivia Kremser, Gizem Zeyhep, Giovanna Brazell, Charlie Haas and Natalia Johnson.
The Girls Bantam Division final in the small gym proved to be an intense defensive struggle between Big 10 rivals, the Hoosiers and Hawkeyes. Coached by Peter Kennedy, the Hoosiers ultimately prevailed 16-11, led by Chloe and Lily Kennedy.
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