For at least a few games, it was like old times.
At this weekend’s 5-on-5 basketball tournament hosted by former
Gilroy High and current Bethany College basketball players Gabriel
Gonzales and Erik Nelson, members of the 2002 Gilroy High squad
that went to the Central Coast Section playoffs hit the hardwood
once again.
Gilroy – For at least a few games, it was like old times.
At this weekend’s 5-on-5 basketball tournament hosted by former Gilroy High and current Bethany College basketball players Gabriel Gonzales and Erik Nelson, members of the 2002 Gilroy High squad that went to the Central Coast Section playoffs hit the hardwood once again.
In addition to Gonzales and Nelson, the Gilroy team included former ‘Stangs Justin Nicholson, Roshan Patel and Anthony Romero.
“It was nice to be playing with those guys again,” Nelson said. “We had a little reunion thing going on.”
At Gilroy High Saturday and Sunday, Nelson’s team was one of six that participated in the first-ever event which Gonzales and Nelson organized to raise money so that they can play professional ball abroad once their Bethany careers are over.
Nelson said the exact amount of money raised has yet to be determined, but that the tournament made a profit.
“Everyone had fun and (Gabe and I) learned the ropes,” Nelson said. “We’ll see how next year goes.”
In the championship game, a Santa Cruz-based team beat a squad out of Hollister, which featured some former Haybaler hoopsters, by a score of 75-70 for the title.
The Gilroy team lost in the first round of the single-elimination playoffs Sunday. Nelson said the former teammates hadn’t played together since high school, with the exception of some pick-up games at 24-Hour Fitness.
“This is the first time we’ve played together since graduation,” Nelson said. “I’m just happy the tournament was a success. I was more concerned with organizing (the event) than winning.
“Anytime you can get back and play with your best friends that you won a championship with in high school, it’s enjoyable,” he added.
Even Gilroy grads were calling the games. Vince Mitre, Teddy Thomas and Bryan Supnet volunteered as referees for the two-day event, which received local sponsorship support from Happy Dog Pizza, South Valley Community Church, the Sport Shack and others.
Nelson hopes to make the tournament an annual event at Gilroy High.
“We want the Gilroy community to have some competitions to look forward to in the summer,” he said.
