Gorman finally wins close game thanks to O’Bannon, key reserves

By Ray Brewer (contact)

Saturday, Jan. 23, 2016 | 8:42 p.m.

Bishop Gorman High’s Grant Rice did a little more than coach the Gaels basketball team this week. He was also their master motivator.

His team has struggled in close games this season, losing five by a combined 12 points entering Saturday’s Big City Showdown against undefeated and nationally ranked Findlay Prep at the South Point Arena. Something, Rice told players, had to give.

“We are Bishop Gorman High School. We are supposed to be in every game and we expect to win,” Rice said. “We have said all week, we expect to win. I said in the pregame speech, ‘We have played hard. We have come up short. Our luck is changing today.’ So proud of our guys.”

Chuck O’Bannon Jr. appeared to be the best player on the court for most of the game, pouring in a team-high 25 points to lead Gorman to its second win in three seasons against Findlay with a 77-71 victory.

O’Bannon, a junior wing who is considered one of the nation’s top 20 recruits for the class of 2017, dueled back and forth with Findlay Prep’s Carlos Johnson, a UNLV signee. Johnson had 29 points on 10-of-14 shooting, but it was O’Bannon who led his team to victory.

Not only where O’Bannon and Johnson leading their teams in scoring, they earned style points with plays at the rim and difficult shots. And whenever one would score, he made sure to tell the other about it on the way to the other side of the court.

That’s what seems to happen each year when the two national programs meet. Gorman is a Nevada power that has gradually became a national brand, and Henderson-based Findlay Prep is always in contention for the national championship.

“When you go up against the top players in the country, you want to make sure you come out on top,” said O’Bannon, who was named the game’s most valuable player.

After the first quarter, that award seemed as if it would go someone from Findlay Prep. The Pilots shot 62 percent in the first quarter and led 22-13 after the initial eight minutes.

Gorman, despite dealing with foul trouble to key players, found a way to rally. And quick.

McDonald’s All-American Zach Collins finished with 16 points and 11 rebounds but was saddled early with foul trouble and spent time on the bench. Junior guard Christian Popoola also was stuck with early foul trouble, meaning Gorman had to rely on its bench. In a loss early this month, Collins, Popoola and O’Bannon combined for all but two of the Gaels' points.

Yet, the reserves were solid.

Jamal Bey drained a 3-pointer before halftime to give Gorman a two-point lead and much momentum, Travis Rice hit a 3-pointer on the game’s first shot and finished with five points, and junior Ryan Kiley was aggressive all game in finishing with seven points in five minutes. Byron Frohnen played out of position at point guard but had five assists and one of the highlight-reel plays of the game with a block defensively in transition.

With the playoffs next month, Saturday night’s win was more about beating a rival in a showcase game. Win or lose, it’s about getting confidence for the playoffs. The Gorman players, and not only Collins or O’Bannon, have to be feeling pretty good about themselves.

Coach Rice has to be feeling confident, too. His team, after all, finished a close game.

Ray Brewer can be reached at 702-990-2662 or [email protected]. Follow Ray on Twitter at twitter.com/raybrewer21