 High School Basketball:
One Half Doesn't Make a Whole
Saturday, January 5, 2002
By Anton Figg
SJSports Special Correspondent
It was the best of times, it was the worst of times. Gateway came out of the starting block real strong in their basketball game with Sterling and for one half didn't look like a team that hadn't won a game this season. Sterling, which hasn't lost a game, looked like a team that was ready to suffer it's first defeat of the season, worked to keep Gateway in the game and to give their fans hope of a big upset. The game flowed for both teams and you could tell that everyone involved was prepared. The first half ended with Sterling holding a slim 34-28 lead.
Then the second half started, Sterling, behind the play of leading scorer Dan Terrell who scored 17 and with help from Dave Cogan with 17 and Tim Parker who chipped in 16 points went on to out score the Gators 50-10 in the second half. The difference in the concentration levels between halves for both teams was night and day. Sterling came out and played like a team that had something to prove. The Gators on the other hand played like a team that was not prepared to finish what it had started.
Sterling's offensive output was not as vindictive as it sounded, Sterling's coach Bill Hiltner substituted freely and gave everyone on his bench the chance to play. If Sterling can maintain the level of play the showed on this day they are going to create headaches for lots of teams and coaches come tournament time. The final score of 84-38 was not a real indicator of the effort exhibited by both teams. I think Sterling could have put up a few more points and I know that with Gateway learning how to put two halves together they too will soon create some stress for other teams and coaches as well.
Photos by Art Redd
        
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High School Basketball:
