Sports

Drake Beats MC for MCAL Championship Berth

Semi-final nail-biter comes down to last 30 seconds.

In the end, it came down to free throws.

With less than 30 seconds in the game, David Ahern from Marin Catholic scored to bring the Wildcats within one of Drake (38-37). Ahern was fouled on the shot too, bringing him to the line and giving Marin Catholic a chance to tie the game again. But, unfortunately for the Wildcats, he missed.

Neal Chavez then made one from the line, followed by Jeremy Steele’s two from the line. And, with just three seconds left, Paul O’Sullivan scored the last free throw to seal the win for Drake 42-37 over Marin Catholic.

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“I’ve been doing it too long to really get nervous,” said Drake coach Doug Donnellan.

But, there was a lot to be nervous about in the second half as Drake lost a 14-4 first quarter lead when Marin Catholic went on a 10-2 run at the end of the first quarter. Drake fell to 23-19 at the half and then lett the game get tied up during the third period.

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“We couldn’t buy a basket,” said Donnellan of the long stretch in the second and third quarters that saw a number of close misses and blocked shots.

Steele led the Pirates with 10 points, followed by O’Sullivan’s 9. But Drake made only two of its ten shots in the third quarter.

On a basket from Wildcat Mike Padovese, Marin Catholic tied the game at 26-26 with two minutes to go in the third quarter. Shots – and missed shots – went back and forth as Drake pulled ahead and Marin Catholic quickly tied the game up again. But, the Wildcats were never able to pull ahead.

With both teams playing outstanding and aggressive defense, something Drake is known for, play got down and dirty in the last corner. As both crowds chanted and multiple plays ended with scuffles on the floor, each team’s coaches inched onto the court to argue calls. Both team’s foul count skyrocketed in the last quarter – leading to the huge number of free throws in last two minutes.

Drake’s defense was led by senior O’Sullivan, with two offensive and five defensive rebounds, who blocked shots and stopped Marin Catholic from setting up plays. 

“We were a different team with him in the game,” said Donnellan.

For the second game in play-offs, Drake’s high free throw percentage (shooting 69 percent from the line) and strong defense secured the win.

The Pirates will bring that game up against San Marin and the Mustang’s star Stuart Wesonga tomorrow, Saturday, at 7:30 p.m. at Redwood. Tickets go on sale early in the morning.


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