Gahr Wins a Double-Overtime Thriller

When the winning coach says the losing team didn’t deserve to lose, basketball fans had to know they watched something special.

That’s the kind of game Gahr vs. Mayfair – The Sequel, turned into. 

As it was in the CIF Division 2A Finals last week, the Gladiators once again topped Mayfair. This time it was a 78-77 double overtime thriller in the second round of the CIF State Boys Basketball Tournament Thursday night at Gahr High School.

Down by nine points with 1:36 left in the first overtime, Gahr slowly but surely clawed back to tie the game with 9.1 seconds left and sent the game into a second overtime. 

Pandemonium ensued after Mayfair backup guard Corey Foster, who moments earlier hit a runner that put his team up by one, missed a 3-pointer with 2.7 seconds left. The loose ball was not grabbed by a Monsoons teammate, which sent the home crowd and the home team jumping for joy, in a double-overtime instant classic of a second-round playoff game.

The Gladiators (26-7) played their final home game of the season. They now travel Saturday to take on No. 1 seed Lincoln High of San Diego (30-1) in the Southern California Regional semifinals. Lincoln, who on Thursday blew out Clovis North of Fresno, 71-49, is the 13th-ranked team in the country, according to ESPNRise.com. Game time is at 7 p.m.

Thursday’s game was a rematch of the CIF-Southern Section Division 2A Boys Basketball final game, won Saturday at the Anaheim Convention Center Arena by Gahr, 63-48.

“We’re ready,” Gahr head coach Richard Roper said. “This is a game where nobody lost, someone just had to get beat. I really feel that way. They’re a championship team, just like we are. My heart goes out to them. It’s just one where nobody deserved to lose.”

If Gahr pulls off the upset on Saturday in San Diego, it would advance to the regional finals, set for 4 p.m. at Galen Center at USC. The winner of the regional final will advance to the state championship game, at 8 p.m. on March 25 at ARCO Arena in Sacramento, against the winner of the Northern California Regional final. 

Gahr 6-foot-7 junior forward John Benson can wear the cape of the superhero. He hit the game-tying basket in the first overtime on an offensive rebound and putback. With 14 seconds left in the second overtime, Benson hit the game-winning layup on a fast break assist by Davon Potts. 

Potts led Gahr in scoring with 20 points, including a perfect 13 of 13 from free-throw line. Michael Alvarez scored 17 points, 10 of 15 from the line; and Benson scored 12 points with 9 rebounds.

“It came down to hard work,” Benson said. “How you practice is how you play in the game. Lately, we’ve been having hard practices. I’ve been listening to my coaches. By them helping me with my big-man drills, I was able to make that layup. We’ve been working hard on our rebounding drills.”

Gahr caught up to and passed Mayfair thanks in large part to some unnecessary fouls by Monsoon defenders that stopped the clock and allowed the Gladiators to start their comeback. Gahr took full advantage, drilling 11 out of 15 free throws in the two overtime periods.

“We never give up, even if we’re down,” Benson said. “We’re always trying to make a comeback. But we’re always mentally tough. Our coach taught us that.”

On the final possession, Michael Alvarez guarded Mayfair star forward Dion Wright, who had scored 33 points. Everyone on both teams knew Wright was about to take the final shot, so Gahr double, then triple-teamed him with help defenders. Wright immediately passed the ball to Foster, who had an open look but missed off the side of the rim.

Alvarez was clutch at the free-throw line, shooting 6-of-7 in the overtimes and 10-of-15 in the game for 17 points. Potts was also ‘nails’ when it counted, scoring 20 points and he shot 13-of-13 from the line.

“We’ve got a lot of heart,” Roper said. “Our seniors don’t want the season to end. Mike Alvarez is a beast. He told me, ‘I want to guard that guy’.”

Alvarez’s final two free throws gave Gahr a 76-75 lead with 1:29 left, after Wright’s 3-ponter gave Mayfair a 75-74 lead. With 1:10 left, Wright missed both free throws after he grabbed two offensive rebounds, before Foster’s fast break runner with less than 30 seconds to play.

Brian Nebo made it all possible in the first place in the fourth quarter, making his first and only 3-pointer count. With 8.8 seconds left, Nebo launched a three that swished home and tied the game at 60-60. Foster’s three was short at the buzzer.

“Brian Nebo, he was a little off tonight (3-of-12 from the field), but he steps up, hits the game-tying three. It’s a mentally tough team.”

Mayfair (26-7) appeared to have locked the game up in the first overtime, scoring the first nine points. Dion Wright hit two free throws, then with 2:35 he converted on a 3-pont play on a foul by Benson, who attempted to draw the charge. Wright also hit one in the lane, then Potts traveled to give the ball back. Mayfair's Filo Fonoti made Gahr pay on a lay-in for a 69-60 lead.

But the Gladiators came right back. Alvarez hit two free throws. Mayfair fouled Michael Alvarez on a 3-pointer that stopped the clock, and with 1:21 left it allowed him to hit two more free throws. Potts later drilled a 3-pointer near the top of the key that cut Mayfair’s lead to 69-67, then Nebo hit two more free throws. With 22.1 seconds left, Benson stole the ball from Wright, then called a timeout as he fell, to avoid a traveling violation.

Potts came through, despite shooting 3-of-20 from the field.

“Free throws are crucial in a game like this,” Potts said. “Benson said he was tired, but you know what? We all came through. We told him we were able to find him, and he made some marvelous plays.”