7/11 Recap Game 1

Bless Ballers pull out victory in double overtime.

The game between the Bless Ballers and the Gunnas was about as good as it gets Wednesday night. The teams went back and forth throughout the night, but in the end, the Bless Ballers came away with a 91-84 victory.

The game saw many lead changes throughout. The Gunnas started off the game hot, seeming to get to the basket at will. The Bless Ballers picked up their defensive intensity, and at the same time picked up their first lead of the game, going up 23-22 on an 8-0 run in the first minute of the second quarter.

The Bless Ballers managed to maintain the lead throughout until about 5 minutes in the fourth quarter, when the Gunnas went on their run. Down as many as 8 points, the Gunnas came back to tie the game with 3 seconds remaining after a defensive stop thanks in large part to Walkery Mills locking down on Cornelius Vines. The Gunnas got the ball after a timeout at half court, and Josh Henderson narrowly missed a game winning three from one step inside half court off the inbounds pass at the end of regulation. Henderson finished with 26 points and 5 rebounds.

With 14 seconds left in the first overtime, it was the Bless Ballers that had the opportunity to win the game. Vines had the ball in an isolation situation, staring down Wes Jackson. Vines however could not finish at the basket, and into a second overtime the teams went.

In the second overtime, the Gunnas were right there with the Bless Ballers, until about 2 minutes remaining. It may or may nor be a coincidence that with 1:44 remaining the second overtime, Preaster checked himself out of the game until the one minute mark; it was at this time things started to go south for the Gunnas. They couldn’t muster up enough offense in overtime to stick with the Bless Ballers. Mookie Jones of Syracuse scored the first 5 points in the second overtime, and the Bless Ballers cruised from there. Jones finished with 30 points.

Up next for the Gunnas is a matchup with another Utica based team, 99 problems. The game will be played Monday, July 16^th at 8:00 P.M. The Bless Ballers take on Syracuse Elite Wednesday, July 18^th at 8:00 P.M. Both games will be played at Notre Dame High School.