Faith-based basketball tournament scores on and off the
court
n Scott Campbell Staff Writer
Gilroy – High-flying hoops and faith-based fellowship.
As the ball pounded on the hardwood throughout the weekend at Gilroy High School, competition and camaraderie took center stage at the E & G Five-on-Five Basketball Tournament. With some of the area’s best basketball talent on hand, nine teams played and prayed to rave reviews on August 11-13.
The second-year tournament, created by former Gilroy High players Erik Nelson and Gabriel Gonzales, looks to become a community fixture for years to come after bringing together players young and not-so-young for three days of intense competition. Ready to enter their final seasons at Bethany University in Scotts Valley, Nelson and Gonzales set out to attract top-notch talent to a Christian-influenced setting.
“We talked about that coming out of our first year of college,” Gonzales said, “to give something back to the community.”
Nelson spoke of “bringing faith to athletics. We felt this would be a good outreach – not throw it in their face, just put it out there. … We would pray before each game unless we were running too far behind.”
After two days of round-robin play, eight teams advanced to Sunday’s single-elimination playoffs. With high school, collegiate and even former professional talent playing under the same roof, the South Valley was reminded that summer sports shouldn’t start and stop with baseball.
Despite just a 2-2 record entering the playoffs, Geno’s Squad strung together three upsets to emerge as the tournament champion. The No. 5 seed eliminated the previously-undefeated 8-Ball Bailbonds, a Hollister-based team, in the semifinals and then survived the Bethany University Bruins in the title game. Aided by the gritty post play of Gilroy High boys’ basketball coach and ex-Santa Clara University star Bud Ogden, Geno’s Squad prevailed 64-61 over the Bruins.
“It was just icing on the cake for us that we won a tournament that was so cool,” said Geno Cotter, the leader of Geno’s Squad. “Regardless of who won, Erik and Gabriel won. They did what they were seeking out to achieve. It was a great thing.”
As fate would have it, Nelson, who also competed at Gavilan College, played a central role in dictating how the tournament progressed on the court as well. With his third-seeded Bethany squad being pushed to the limit by the Gilroy Jammers, a 17-and-under AAU team, Nelson drained a 3-pointer with 10 seconds left in the semifinal contest to stun the youngsters and send the Bruins to the final with a 60-59 victory.
The Jammers, the only high school team in the tournament, featured players that are already dominating play far beyond the Tri-County Athletic League. Gilroy High upper classmen Derek Jensen, Marshad Johnson, Lorenzo Dobson, Javin Charlot and Ryan Costa were among those teaming with San Benito’s Marty Bueno and Palma’s Orlando Johnson to not only surprise many in this tournament, but also to finish second in the Western Nationals this summer.
Despite his team’s down-to-the-wire loss against Bethany, Jammers coach Kort Jensen said the weekend was a success on many different levels. “When we were invited to the tournament, we were told we wouldn’t win a game because everyone (else) is too old and big and strong, but we did pretty well,” said Jensen, whose team finished 5-1. “It’s nice because there’s going to be some good basketball around here the next couple of years.”
Behind standout play from former San Benito High star Neil Garrett, the 8-Ball Bailbonds took the No. 1 seed into the playoffs and promptly defeated L.J.’s Ballers, a team led by ex-Gilroy High player Justin (L.J.) Nicholson. The Hollister team looked to continue its run to the championship game, but an incredible individual effort by Will Shaw of Geno’s Squad turned the tables. With his team trailing late in the second half, Shaw scored 13 consecutive points, a showing that had Cotter shaking his head in amazement.
“We’re down seven (points) and, all of a sudden, we’re up six,” said Cotter. “It was crazy.”
The seventh-seeded Ligers, a team of former Gilroy High players including Erik Tollison and Vince Mitre, went 1-3 in the round-robin stage. They were bounced by the current Mustangs and other prep stars on the No. 2 Jammers in the quarterfinals.
Geno’s Squad was made up of players that have spent the summer coaching Basketball Jones Hoop Camps. Based on their showing in the E & G Tournament, the champions know a thing or two about winning basketball.
Cotter, the leader of Geno’s Squad, was quick to bring the emphasis back to the fellowship Nelson and Gonzales instilled, crediting a prayer by the Bethany coach prior to the championship game as a driving force for his team.
“You know, when you’re praying and you’re feeling it, you’re like, ‘Yeah!'” Cotter related. “But then there was a game and we had things to attend to.”
