Despite being eliminated after its second straight loss at the Beach Ball Classic in Myrtle Beach, S.C., the Galena High boys basketball team still had an impressive run in the nation's most prestigious tournament.
Meanwhile, the Douglas High boys basketball team picked up an impressive win to advance to the fifth place game at the Clovis (Calif.) Christmas Tournament.
Galena lost to Scott County, the No. 1 team in Kentucky, 70-64 while Douglas beat Immanuel of Reedley, Calif., 60-56. Immanuel is the defending Central Section champion in its division.
"I hate that from Indiana," said Galena coach Tom Mauer, joking about his Indiana roots on losing to a team from Kentucky.
But Mauer was actually pleased with his team's effort. "They were just one shot ahead of us," he said.
"I just couldn't be more happy with the growth of a team in three days in the best tournament in the nation. Obviously we never like to lose but I'm really, really proud of my team."
Mauer was particularly pleased with the defense of J.D. Peters, who shut down Buck Mackay, who has committed to Indiana. A day after scoring 36 points against Florida's Arlington Country Day, Mackay didn't score a field goal and had seven points on 7-of-10 foul shooting against Peters. "He did an outstanding job," said Mauer about Peters.
Mackay also got the benefit of the doubt from the officials, Mauer said. Scott County was 17-of-27 from the foul line while Galena was 13-of-17.
"They made some calls," Mauer said. "But that's the way it is in these kinds of tournaments."
Luke Babbitt scored 34 points, Tristan Hill had 13 points and Brice Crook added 11 points for Galena, which has now played seven nationally ranked teams this season.
Douglas built a 34-22 halftime lead before Immanuel outscored the Tigers 16-10 to pull to within 44-38 after three quarters. The Eagles went on to take the lead in the fourth quarter before Douglas came back.
"It's a little frustrating but encouraging in the same regard," said Douglas coach Rob Streeter about losing then regaining the lead. "This is a game we would have lost last year. We were able to regroup and make some free throws down the stretch."
Michael Gransbery was 6-of-8 from the line in the fourth quarter. The Tigers were 17-of-24 from the line, including 14-of-18 in the second half.
Keith Olson scored 16 points, Joe Nady had 12 points and Gransbery scored all nine of his points in the second half. Streeter also praised the play off the bench of David Laird and Jared Trowbridge. Douglas will play at 4:30 p.m. today.