PORTLAND The Gallatin High School boys basketball team has lost four games by single-figure margins.
However, on Friday evening, the Green Wave found a way to win a close contest.
Gallatin captured its first victory, a 44-37 win at Portland in the two teams’ District 9-AAA opener.
“It feels good to actually come out with a win,” Green Wave sophomore guard Zyun Mason said. “Everybody on the team is happy.
“We can’t let this win overcome us though. We’re glad we won tonight. Now, we have to focus on the next one.”
Gallatin High junior guard Anthony Woods makes an entry pass into the post area as Portland’s Luke Jones defends.
Gallatin (1-6) took the lead late in the first half and maintained it.
“They needed it a lot,” Green Wave head coach Bobby Luna said. “They’re excited. They’re so young and full of energy. The effort has been good.
“Hopefully, one win will springboard you to getting more.”
There were seven lead changes and one tie in the first half.
Panther senior guard Jay Crutchfield made a 3-pointer with 1:29 remaining in the half to give his squad the lead, but 22 seconds later, Zyun Mason caught a kick-out pass from Jordan Mason and made a 3-pointer to place his squad in front to stay.
Gallatin junior guard Marlon Mitchell drove into the lane for a layin in the final seconds of the half to give his squad a 24-20 advantage.
Portland High senior Eric Kirk looks to pass out of the trap of Gallatin junior Marlon Mitchell (00) and sophomore Zyun Mason during second-quarter action. Kirk scored four points.
The margin fluctuated between four and six points in the third quarter, but Portland (1-4) pulled to within five points on three occasions in the final period, twice after baskets from senior forward Caelum Utley.
Utley was the focus of Gallatin’s defensive effort.
“We gave great effort,” Luna said. “We created fatigue, but we didn’t force (many) turnovers.
“We were pretty good on Utley. He was still their leading scorer, but he worked really hard.”
Zyun Mason added, “We were watching film on him. We tried to eliminate his right hand, stop his drive and beat him to spots he’s good at. We were focused on trying to stop him from scoring 20 or 30 points.”
Portland High senior forward Caelum Utley releases an interior shot over Gallatin junior Mark Brummett. Utley scored a game-high 16 points.
Utley scored a game-high 16 points.
“I thought they might have done the best job of Caelum of anybody we’ve played so far, and he still scores 16,” Panther head coach Chris Carney said. “Jay played pretty well.
“With the turnovers we had, somebody else had to step up. It was just tough.”
Green Wave junior guard Nigel Black made four consecutive free throws over the final 89 seconds to help seal the win.
Gallatin High junior guard Nigel Black dribbles past Portland senior Eric Kirk during third-quarter action. Black scored six points in the Green Wave’s 44-37 victory on Friday evening.
“You have to look at the positives,” Carney said. “We gave ourselves a chance to win, even though Caelum had four fouls and Bryce (Keith, a starting guard) had four fouls. We were still in position to win.
“It’s tough to win when you have that many turnovers and give up 10 offensive rebounds. Both teams were hungry. It was just turnovers and second chances.”
Zyun Mason scored a team-high 12 points, and Mitchell finished with nine points.
Crutchfield backed Utley’s production with 10 points.
“This was good,” Zyun Mason said. “We still have a lot of work to do, but we practice hard every day.
“Coach was telling us to forget about the past. He said, ‘it starts Friday.’ When he said, ‘it starts Friday,’ that’s when it turned on in our heads.”
Gallatin hosts Mt. Juliet on Tuesday, while Portland plays at Station Camp.
Reach Craig Harris at charris@mtcngroup.com or at 615-575-7138. Follow him on Twitter @HarrisGNESports.
GALLATIN (44) – Zyun Mason 12, Marlon Mitchell 9, Mark Brummett 7, Nigel Black 6, Collin Minor 6, Dakota Bailey 2, Jordan Mason 2.
PORTLAND (37) – Caelum Utley 16, Jay Crutchfield 10, Bryce Keith 4, Eric Kirk 4, Luke Jones 3.
Half: 24-20, Gallatin. Three-point goals: Gallatin 4 (Z. Mason 2, Minor 2), Portland 2 (Crutchfield 1, Jones 1). Records: Gallatin 1-6 overall, 1-0 in District 9-AAA; Portland 1-4, 0-1.