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Gates Mills, Ohio – Let’s turn the clock back to 1997. The year the Cleveland Indians lost a heart-wrenching World Series to the Florida Marlins. Also, the year we were introduced to Barbie Girl, MMMbop, and Pokémon.
One more thing, it was also the last year that Gilmour Academy won a district championship in boys basketball.
Fast forward to 2021, and the Lancers are back again.
Thanks to Ryan Mueller’s 11 points, including a go-ahead layup with 1:43 left, Gilmour Academy defeated visiting Padua, 42-38, in the Division II, Northeast 5 district championship game.
Gilmour led by as much as seven (19-12) in the second quarter before Padua went on an 8-0 run to take the lead, capped by a Sam Ehrbar triple. Ryan Mueller would clean up a miss on the other end to give the Lancers a 21-20 lead at the half.
In the fourth quarter, the action really picked up.
Padua entered the fourth down 31-27, and clawed back to take the lead, 34-33, thanks to an Akinlana Popoola jumper.
Gilmour responded with a three by senior forward Vinny Bandwen to take the lead back. He had seven points on the night.
After Akinlana Popoola’s floater tied it at 36, Ryan Mueller drove to the hoop to give the Lancers a lead it would not relinquish.
Why? Because the Lancer defense stepped up in a huge way, stopping Padua’s game tying attempts twice in the final minute.
Penn State baseball commit Ben DeMell is a star on the diamond, and on the court as well. He had nine points on the night, including four clutch free throws (the latter two coming on a technical for a delay of game with :0.4 left), to put the game away for the Lancers.
“The emotions were high and it was a big moment. My teammates counted on me to deliver and I did.” said DeMell.
The Lancers improve to 10-9 and take on Youngstown Chaney in the Barberton regional semifinal next Thursday.
“I’m really proud of our kids. We have phenomenal student-athletes here. We fought the good fight all season, and it feels really special.” said Gilmour Academy head coach Dan DeCrane. “Their strength was the man offense, and we wanted to take them out of it. They’re really well coached and disciplined. We played a 2-3 zone, and it worked out in the end.”
Padua senior guard Sam Ehrbar and junior guard Akinlana Popoola each 12 points to pace the Bruins, who finish the season at 14-10.
