Corals Capture Inaugural Outdoor Basketball League Championship

With the sweet outside shot of Gabe Yanoff, the Corals captured the Outdoor Basketball League’s first ever title.

Yanoff led a balanced attack, recording a team high seven points and Jamie Mordas added five points and eight rebounds as the Corals cruised to a 25-19 win over the Blacks in Thursday night’s championship showdown at the Wayland High School outdoor courts.

The Corals, who earned the top seed in the playoffs, finished the season with a memorable 10-1 mark while the Blacks ended their campaign at 9-2.

Originally the Orange squad, the Corals changed their uniform colors mid-season following the murder of Wayland High Class of 2011 classmate Lauren Astley earlier this summer.

“We wanted to dedicate the season to her (Astley),’’ said Jay Saltmarsh, who contributed five points in the win. “We all knew her very well, and we were able to get the colors changed in our uniform to honor her memory. It was a great season, and we all came through to win the (OBL) title.”

Also contributing to the scoring for the Corals was Brett Mordas with five points, while Tim Hanafin added three.

In the loss, Connor McNeil led the Blacks with five points while Tyler Mordas and Mike Miles added three points apiece.

“We played hard all season, but at the same time, we played well as a team and had a lot of fun,’’ said Jamie Mordas. “The (OBL) was a lot of fun, and I’m definitely looking forward to playing in it again next year.”

On a pair of jumpers by Saltmarsh and Brett Mordas, the Corals jumped out to a 2-0 lead before the Blacks executed a 4-0 run. Tyler Mordas and McNeil struck back with a pair of runners before McNeil drained a two-pointer from beyond the top of the key as the Blacks grabbed a 4-2 lead.

Jumpers by Brett Mordas and Saltmarsh tied the contest at 4-4 before Yanoff struck with a lay-up and a two-pointer for the 7-5 Corals lead.

For a brief period, both teams traded baskets and battled to a 9-9 tie before the Corals executed a backbreaking 13-3 run.

After a jumper by Yanoff, Brett Mordas knocked down a two-pointer from the left arc, increasing the lead to 12-9 before a pair of Mordas baskets from the low post paved the way for a five-point edge.

Yanoff followed, launching a two-point shot from beyond the left arc as the Corals rolled out to a 16-9 lead.

“Our interior defense was solid, and we were able to play some tough defense,’’ said Mordas. “We boxed out in the paint, and we got some second-chance points off some tough rebounds. We were able to just pick things up a notch.”

Momentarily snapping the Coral surge, the Blacks trimmed the lead to 17-11 on baskets by Tyler Mordas and Dan Lesser before the Corals executed a 4-1 run.

Jamie Mordas nailed a put back before Saltmarsh drained a shot from the outside. After a driving basket by Yanoff, Saltmarsh slashed through a pair of Black T-shirts for an uncontested lay-up en route to a commanding 21-12 Coral lead.

Following a brief time out, the Blacks answered with a McNeil two-pointer from the top of the key, cutting the lead to 21-14 before Hanafin retaliated with a two-pointer for the 23-14 Coral edge.

Down to their last points, the Blacks engineered a charge as Tyler Mordas connected on a two-pointer, capping a 3-0 run to trim the lead to 23-17.

Despite the efforts, the Corals were able to withstand the rally, as baskets by Brett Mordas and Tim Hanafin secured the win and the first ever Outdoor League Basketball championship.