AURORA | Even several weeks into the season, Gateway boys basketball coach Ibn Shabazz saw his team come together before his very eyes Saturday afternoon.
The Olys had their successes before winter break and won their first game on the other side — continuing to put last season’s one-win campaign well in the rearview mirror — but Shabazz saw the pieces fall into place during a gritty 62-61 overtime win over visiting Castle View, which refused to go away.
Junior Maximus Matthews racked up 25 points and 17 rebounds, while junior Kaiemion Ashley and senior Samuel Piedrahita also reached double figures with 13 and 10 points, respectively, as Gateway finally put away the SaberCats (8-4) to get to 7-5 on the season.
The late stages of regulation and overtime took place with the teams having a combined five players relegated to the bench after fouling out, a group that included Gateway’s leading scorer and top outside shooting threat in senior Josh Arce, who was limited to seven points before he was finished.
The Olys built a five-point lead with less than 30 seconds remaining, but Castle View connected on two 3-pointers, including one to tie the game at 51-51 just before the buzzer.
Matthews finished with a season-high in points (as he topped his 14-point effort against Littleton back on Dec. 2) and the physical junior started Gateway off on the right foot in overtime with a hard drive to the basket for a layup plus an and-one free throw.
The SaberCats scored five straight points to go up two before a tough inside basket by Piedrahita, who then scored again with just over a minute left in the extra session to get into double figures for the sixth time in 11 games.
The Olys left the door open with several missed free throws in the closing seconds, but Matthews made three of his four attempt, including a pair of makes with 11.2 seconds left that provided the game-winning point.
Gateway returns to action on Jan. 12 with a 7 p.m. visit to Aurora Central that marks the opening of Colorado League play.
Courtney Oakes is Sentinel Colorado Sports Editor. Reach him at sports@sentinelcolorado.com. Twitter: @aurorasports. IG: Sentinel Prep Sports
