NCS Open, First Round!

[kiddman32]

half an hour away from a huge matchup here at Dublin…. The Gaels will take on Northgate for the right to try my Cougars on for size on Wednesday, the 23rd.

Winner gets that matchup, lo, errrrrr non-winner plays in a consolation game the same day for NorCal seeding purposes.

 

[kiddman32]

Dublin is 16-5, and played really fell throughout February until they ran into upstart Granada in the league tourney’s semifinals.

Northgate is 19-6.

Both teams have played rather manly schedules, and should be able to dazzle tonight!

 

[kiddman32]

For those who can’t get here, the game is being covered by NorCal Sports TV and will be shown on NFHS, and I assume YouTube.

 

[kiddman32]

Here we go….

Northgate starts things off with an inside score…. 2-0.

TJ Costello with a charge…

Merrill drives and scores for NG…. 4-0.

A stop and a score, it’s 6-0…

Another stop, the Gaels better get going.

Merrill with a putback score, it’s 8-0…. Time out Gaels! 4:10 left in the first.

 

[kiddman32]

Anderson hits a Gael 3…. 8-3.

And he rebounds a miss…. Gaels fighting back.

That last possession was a sight to see, like 6 passes leading to the bucket.

Near-steal by NG, then they do get it! Steal and bucket makes it 10-3.

NG foul on a Stokes try,, FT’s split. 10-4, good buddy…

Corner 3 for NG…. 13-4.

Wild Anderson pass goes into the 6th row.

NG almost stole another easy bucket, but no go…

Anderson from San Ramon… 3!

13-7. Merril his a short J…. 15-7. 34 seconds left in the 1st. Anderson fires another, this one from Pittsburg…. BAM! 15-10. Annnnd…. That’s the quarter.

 

[kiddman32]

Putback score for NG’s Cook…. and Merril hits a long one for 3! 20-10.

Golan drives and scores off a backscreen for NG…. 22-10.

Dublin hits a J…. 22-12.

Cook fouled, to the line for a pair. FT’s swish. 24-12.

NG gets another stop…. and Cooke hits a 3! 27-12.

Dublin travels…. Danger zone here.

Dublnally able to force a tough NG stop, but NG gets it back on the other end… GREAT pass inside to Shaver for a layup…. 29-12, 4:13 left, another Dubnli time out.

 

[kiddman32]

Strong inside move by Costello, he scores, is fouled…. FT good. 29-15.

NG double-dribble in the corner.

Anderson hits another 3…. 29-18. Dublin needs to find another way beside just Anderson bombs, tho…

Great move by NG’s Dylan Chung for a score…. 31-18. 2:43 left.

 

[kiddman32]

Give and go for Costello, 31-20.

Cooke drives to the dish, is fouled. FT’s split. 32-20.

Mehki Thomas hits a Dublin 3…. and NG turns it over…. 32-23. Dublin needs a run here…. Not that time, traveling.

Anderson takes a charge! 44 seconds…

HE cuts to the rack, tkes a pass, miss but fouled. FT’s good. 32-25.

Dublin steal! Downcourt quick, pass to Thomas, he’s fouled…. Ooo, ball got heavy on the first FT, second one good.

Halftime score: 32-26 Northgate.

 

[kiddman32]

Dublin runs the same backscreen cut that NG’s been burning them with…. Anderson scores, fouled, hits FT. 32-29, the start they needed.

Cooke fouled, FT’s both good. He’s not the guy to foul. 34-29.

Cooks nails a Gael 3! 34-32.

Strong offensie rebound by Cooke gets a bucket…. 36-32.

5:38 left 3rd.

 

[kiddman32]

Nice pass to NG’s Chung for a score…. 38-32. Cooks fouled, 2 Gael FT’s…. split…. 38-33.

Anderson with a SWEEEEEEET Eurostep for 2…. 38-35, 2:50 left in the 3rd.

Anderson with a baseline J…. 38-37. THis is asclose as Dublin has been the whole game. 2:06 left 3rd.

 

[kiddman32]

Shots have stopped falling for both teams… getting a bit tight?

Nice pass to Stokes, Dublin takes the lead for the first time! A Northgate try at the end fails…. 39-38 Dublin after 3.

 

[kiddman32]

Nice move by Stokes inside, 40-39 NG.

Anderson nails yet another long 3…. 42-40.

Merril 3 sticks against the rim, jump ball to Dublin.

NG steals it back, Stokes fouled on the layup try…. FT’sboth miss…. still 42-40 Dublin.

Costello driving against the shot clock, airball, gets it back and up just in time to score! 44-40. 5:46 left.

Golan hits a 3! 44-43. Anderson tries to return the favor, nope…. NG ball.



GREAT pass to Golan for a score…. 45-44 NG, but Dublin sores right back quic…. 46-45.

NG gets three tries at a bucket, Merrilll sinks the third try and is fouled…. FT good. 48-46. 4:15 left.

 

[kiddman32]

Pair of stops…. 2:35 left.

NG ball now, time out, 2:11 left.

Shots have ceased to fall for either team…. 48-46 Northgate.

 

[kiddman32]

Dublin chages to a 1-3-1 zone…. NG manages to get it inside to Chung, who’f fouled…. Sinks 1. 49-46.

50.1 seconds left now, Dublin, down 49-46 with the ball, calls time.

 

[kiddman32]

Anderson takes a 3…. bounces out, scramble for it, it gets to NG. Chung fouled, at the line…. First one goes…. Second onealso. 51-46, 36 seconds…. Dublin quickle gets a 2, calls time…. 25.2 seconds. 51-48 Northgate, with possession…. Looking down at the table, they have the arrow, too.

 

[kiddman32]

Basically, Dublin needs a miracle.

Cooke fouled almost immediately. Double bonus…. FT is true, next one also. 53-48.

Anderson fouled, NG had a foul to give…

A couple wild 3 tries, no way… NG rebound, downcourt and layup, ballgame. 55-48.

Cougs will be waiting for ya, Broncos!

 

[dr_mike]

Miramonte up 57-46 over Granada after 3.

 

[dr_mike]

Miramonte wins 79-67

 

[TC112]

DFAL had a very good night. HS Seniors matters. Northgate is senior heavy as well as MM. If either can win in the semis that would be an upset. 1st time watching Northgate this season, impressed by Coach Shaughnessy and what he has done in a short span. Campo and DLS having more than a week off can work in the road teams favor nxt week.

 

[ayalar09]

DFAL had a very good night. HS Seniors matters. Northgate is senior heavy as well as MM. If either can win in the semis that would be an upset. 1st time watching Northgate this season, impressed by Coach Shaughnessy and what he has done in a short span. Campo and DLS having more than a week off can work in the road teams favor nxt week.

I agree...especially Campo who beat NG by 6 and 3 respectively in their earlier meetings. I know Campo is good and battle tested, but tough to beat a good team 3x in one season!

 

[kiddman32]

Yup, beating a good team three times in a season is very tough.

 

[TC112]

I agree...especially Campo who beat NG by 6 and 3 respectively in their earlier meetings. I know Campo is good and battle tested, but tough to beat a good team 3x in one season!

All of those Campo & Northgate kids have played with and against each other since 3rd grade. Mahaney & "Big shot" Bennett are the x factors IMO.

 

[observer22]

That was a great game tonight. When Northgate’s shots quit falling in the 3rd quarter and they lost a big lead, it would have been easy for them to quit. But credit coach Shaughnessy and the kids for buckling down and fighting back. I saw Northgate come back from down 18 to Campo and make it a 2-point game in the final seconds, so I knew they had it in them. Lots of Campo folks in the crowd tonight. Great HS hoops!