DUBLIN, CA — A late four-point deficit against the defensive-minded De La Salle Spartans would be a death sentence for most teams, but the Dublin Gaels are cut from a different cloth.
The hosts trailed by four at the end of the third quarter and faced a 61-57 deficit with 5:15 remaining, but tied the game at 63 and took the lead for good on a Conner Jackson 3-pointer with 2:38 remaining en route to a 77-72 win to open up a commanding three-game lead over Foothill in the EBAL-Valley Division standings.
Jackson scored eight of his game-high 25 points in the fourth quarter, including a 3-point play with 4:24 remaining to pull Dublin (18-3, 8-0 EBAL) level at 63 with 4:24 left. The Gaels took a brief lead on Kyle Brown’s only points of the night before Thomas Gregorios tied the game at 65 with a drive to the hoop with 2:55 left. Gregorios scored half of his 12 points in the quarter.
After a pair of Tim Kostolansky free throws brought De La Salle (15-6, 6-2) within one, standout sophomore Robby Beasley drove into a double team and scored to put the Gaels up 70-67, and a pair of Jackson free throws stretched the lead to five. Gregorios scored again to bring the Spartans within three, but Beasley came through with the dagger, a three as the shot clock expired with 50 seconds to go to put the Gaels up six.
The Spartans led 59-55 after three quarters by closing the third on a 10-0 run. Justin Pratt, who scored 20 points, gave De La Salle the lead at 56-55 as his team held Dublin scoreless over the final 2:57 of the quarter. The 15-point third quarter was the lowest of the night for the Gaels, with 6’7 senior Jack Nielsen scoring 10 of his 21 in the period.
Nielsen also scored seven in the fourth, including a 3-point play on a putback to cut the lead to 61-60 with five minutes remaining. Kostolansky, who led De La Salle with 22, would restore a three-point advantage on the next possession before Jackson took matters into his own hands.
The Gaels will look to maintain their perfect league record on Tuesday when they host Amador Valley, while De La Salle will take to the road in an attempt to avenge a league-opening loss to Dougherty Valley. The Spartans are tied atop the Mountain Division standings with Dougherty Valley, one game in front of Monte Vista.
