Manny Gallardo hit a pair of 3-pointers with less than 4 minutes to play Wednesday to lift District 5 to the Men’s DD Winter Basketball League championship with a 67-59 victory over Hard Ninety at Solorsano Gymnasium.
Justin Nicholson scored 35 points to lead District 5. Eric Tollison sank three 3-pointers on his way to 13 points for the winners. Frankie Tomasetti had 17 points, and Josh Bleen scored 15 for Hard Ninety.
After Tony Travis of Hard Ninety scored on a driving layup with about 13 minutes left to snap a 44-44 tie, District 5 responded with a 10-0 run to take a 54-46 lead with 8:27 to go. Nicholson accounted for all 10 points, closing the rally with a fast-break layup.
Hard Ninety came back with eight points for a 54-54 tie.
After Nicholson slipped behind the Hard Ninety defense for a layup with 5:15 left, Gallardo put the game away with two consecutive 3-pointers.
Rick Hattaway’s 3-pointer from the left corner 2:25 into the game lifted Hard Ninety to a 9-0 advantage. Nicholson’s 17-point output helped District 5 claim a 33-29 halftime edge.
