Gateway boys overcome slow start to qualify for playoffs

By: HSSN Staff
Sunday, February 11, 2018 | 11:00 PM

It has been a unique season for the Gateway boys basketball team. For the second season in a row, the Gators overcame an 0-4 start to reach the playoffs.

Coach Daryn Freedman's team was missing some key players early because of the football team's march to the state championship game.

“We have had to get over injuries and overcame losses from the football season,” Freedman said. “We have the craziest losses. We lost on like three or four buzzer-beaters. Hopefully, we are done with that.”

Courtney Jackson was one of the football players whose arrival to the basketball team was delayed. Jackson was the leading receiver for the Gators, and the basketball team struggled to find a rhythm without him.

Jackson also missed a game late in the season against McKeesport — a last-second 53-51 loss — while on a recruiting visit to Ohio.

The Gators finished in third place in Section 3-5A with a 6-4 record. In its penultimate game, Gateway played one of its best games of the season, defeating North Allegheny, 42-29, in a nonsection contest.

“It was probably our most complete effort of the year,” Freedman said. “We were passing the ball well and defending well. We outworked them, and that was big.

“Our practices have gotten better and more crisp. We cut it down to an hour and a half and just go hard the whole time. Our smalls and bigs are working well together.”

The Gators had a tough loss in their last section game of the season against Highlands, 37-30.

“We played a strong game against Highlands and missed some shots,” Freedman said. “John Paul (Kromka) was in foul trouble, and it was tough playing without him.”

The key to Gateway making the playoffs for the ninth consecutive season has been its defense. Just like the girls team at Gateway, they lead Class 5A in scoring defense at 45.7 points per game.

Freedman is pleased with where his team is but knows there is more work to be done to get to where they want to be in the playoffs.

“We want to be playing well right now,” he said. “We want to have momentum heading into the playoffs. Everything is set for seeding, but it is big to have momentum.

“We have been leading the league in scoring defense. We haven't been perfect, but we have gotten a lot better. We still have some breakdowns. We can still get better.”

Drew Karpen is a freelance writer.

Tags: Gateway