GREENE COUNTY
The outcome was never in doubt on Dec. 17, when the Gatewood Gators won 74-40 at home versus the Buccaneers from Briarwood Academy.
Led by senior point guard Jackson “J-Mo” Morris, the Gatewood varsity boys’ team outscored Briarwood in each quarter, putting up 18, 17, 25 and 14 points to reach their total over the 7, 14, 11 and eight points Briarwood managed on their side of the ball.
Gatewood now holds a 6-2 record for the season so far, while Briarwood was left with a 5-4 record to finish out the 2022 portion of both teams’ schedules.
“I thought we came out playing pretty good. Their big guy was giving us some trouble at first and then we got into a little foul trouble. But we made adjustments. We started to just front him no matter what. That made a big difference and we contained him pretty well in the second half,” Gators head coach Don Keiser said. “And I’m very excited about the shooting. I’ve been waiting for the shooting to come around and it was a lot better overall this time. We’re starting to hit the threes, they’re starting to fall,” the coach added, referring to three-point shots from outside the arc.
“They play us a zone and I encourage teams to play us a zone,” Keiser continued. “I’d like to see a man (coverage) as quick as we are, but they all play the zone and we’re just going to shoot out over them, especially with guys like Matt Allen and Jackson (Morris) and Kaden (Keiser) and Walker Roberts.”
Also making a solid contribution was senior shooting guard Harrison Kelly until suffering a scary fall that twisted his right knee after driving straight down the center lane in an attempt to score late in the first half.
In obvious pain, Kelly sat on the floor beneath the basket while Gators trainer Troy Burner assessed any potential damage. Fortunately, Kelly showed no sign of serious injury and continued to play, though at a much-reduced frequency in the second half.
“Burner is our A.D., too, our athletic director and our trainer. He knows every bone in the body and just does a great job, so we’re very blessed to have him,” Keiser said. “But Harrison was just sore. I think it scared him more than anything. He was limping a little bit, but he still played (in the second half).”
The Gators will return to action after the holiday break with a trio of non-region games, beginning Jan. 5, with a road trip to play Thomas Jefferson Academy in Louisville. The following day, Gatewood will host Edmund Burke Academy and on Jan. 10, Thomas Jefferson will pay a return visit to the Gators' home court.