The game was possibly a district preview.
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The cramped confines of Bishop LeBlond High School gym continue to be a tough place for the Gallatin Bulldogs to grab a victory. The tough-at-home Golden Eagles unleashed a powerful, up-tempo transition offense and stifling zone defense to upset the Bulldogs, 55-42, Tuesday night in a likely preview of one of next week’s Class 2A, District 16 Tournament semifinal matchups.
The loss ended an 11-game win streak for Gallatin and came at a time when the Bulldogs were looking to build up a head of steam heading into post season play. LeBlond, the #4 district seed on the basis of a .500 record, will play Mid-Buchanan in the district’s opening round on Monday. The winner will likely face Gallatin in the semifinal round on Wednesday for the right to play for the district title.
The Eagles produced the antidote to a Gallatin’s MU-Tiger style offensive attack that had produced twenty-one 3-pointers in its last 2 outings. Team quickness and a stifling 2-1-2 zone defense proved to be the deciding factor, particularly in the early going, when the Eagles swept to a 21-8 first quarter advantage. Gallatin’s offense in the early going consisted of buckets by Kenny Youtsey and Bobby Wood and 2 free throws each from Chad Sullenger and Joey Evans. LeBlond gave Gallatin few good looks at the basket. While choking off the inside, the Eagles forced the Bulldogs to pass over the top of the zone.
Eagle quickness sent LeBlond to the foul line 7 times in the first 4 minutes and 13 times before the opening period had elapsed. LeBlond scored 23 of its 30 first half points off their pick-and- roll, low post offense, or from the free throw line as a result of a Bulldog foul.
By stepping up the rebounding on the defensive end, the Bulldogs were able to cut their deficit back to 24-20 before intermission. Sullenger nailed a pair of treys and Quentin Carroll added another. LeBlond’s patience in finding the opening man down low paid off as they pushed their lead back to 30-20 at the break.
A 14-4 run, fueled initially by a pair of Robert Heldenbrand buckets and a Sullenger deuce helped the Bulldogs earn a brief tie, 34-34, at the 4:27 mark of the 3rd period. Youtsey took it to the hoop on the baseline and Carroll notched his second trey during the surge.
Gallatin exited the 3rd quarter break with a Youtsey bucket but the Eagles once again turned to their transition game, outscoring the Bulldogs 16-4 the rest of the way.
Sullenger paced Gallatin, now 21-3, with 13 points. Carroll finished with 11. Heldenbrand and Youtsey contributed 9 and 8 points, respectively. LeBlond was led by James Pitts with 20 and Josh Miljavac with 15.