Gateway notebook: 6 Gators earn Big East all-conference recognition

By: Triblive
Sunday, December 8, 2024 | 11:01 AM

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Gateway senior Amari Gans and junior Shawn Moorefield Jr. were recognized recently with selection to the Class 5A Big East all-conference first team.

Gans was an at-large selection as an athlete, while Moorefield was picked as a wide receiver.

The Gators also had four players picked to the second team — junior offensive tackle Kaiyen Mbandi, sophomore tight end Kacey Carter, junior defensive tackle Roberson Louis-Jeune and sophomore linebacker Jackson Smith.

Gateway finished 3-7 overall and 2-4 in the Big East Conference, good for a tie for fourth place with Latrobe and Kiski Area. The Gators fell short of the postseason after suffering four losses to end the regular season.

LoCoco brothers honored

A pair of Gateway boys soccer players were picked to the Section 1-4A all-section team.

Senior brothers James and Nick LoCoco were selected to the second team. James LoCoco also was an All-WPIAL honoree after scoring a team-high 20 goals this season.

Norwin’s Daniel Maddock and Plum’s Garrett Chandler were co-players of the year in the section, and Plum’s Raf Kolankowski was the coach of the year.

The Gators went 8-8 overall and 5-5 in Section 1, good for third place. They lost to Canon-McMillan, 6-0, in the first round of the WPIAL playoffs.

Miller earns 1st-team all-section

Gateway senior setter Joanna Miller was named a first-team Section 5 all-star following her final season for the Gators.

The 5-5 setter was joined on the team by six teammates — senior middle hitter Auroya Brown on the second team and third-team selections Lydia Blash (outside hitter), Ava Cecere (right-side hitter), Jolina Estremera (setter), Triniti Stevenson (outside hitter) and Ashlee Young (middle hitter). All are seniors except, Stevenson, who is a sophomore.

Gateway finished 9-6 overall and 8-4 in Section 5, good for third place. The Gators lost to top-seeded Beaver, 3-0, in the first round of the WPIAL playoffs.

Basketball teams open season

Gateway’s boys basketball team dropped a pair of close games to start the 2024-25 season.

The Gators fell 49-43 at Woodland Hills on Nov. 30.

Mykel Bruce-McCrommon had 18 points, and Paul Nnacho added 15 in the loss. The Gators rallied with a 15-7 run in the fourth quarter but couldn’t close the gap.

They dropped a 55-54 decision to Belle Vernon at home Dec. 3. Bruce- McCrommon had 30 points, and Nnacho added 10. Belle Vernon’s Tommy Davis hit the winning basket with 1.5 seconds remaining.

• The Gateway girls got off to an 0-2 start after losses against Clairton, 56-34, and Woodland Hills, 52-24.

Gateway wrestling falls

The Gators wrestling team dropped a 52-12 decision to Armstrong to open the 2024-25 season Nov. 4.

Tags: Gateway