Las Vegas Review-Journal (Sunday)
Bey’s emergence leads Gorman past Clark, to Sunset title
Bishop Gorman junior Jamal Bey didn’t look like himself in the first half Saturday in his first game back after dislocating his left shoulder on Tuesday.
He more than made up for it in the second half.
Bey scored all 15 of his points after halftime, sparking the Gaels to a 64-51 win over Clark for the Class 4A Sunset Region boys basketball title at Shadow Ridge. It is the ninth consecutive Sunset title for the Gaels.
“We told him at halftime, if you’re going to play, leave it all out there,” Gorman coach Grant Rice said. “And if you can’t go, let us know. Obviously he showed what a good player he is in the second half.”
Bey conceded to being tentative in the first half when he had one assist and missed two 3-point attempts. But the scoring drought didn’t last long, as he nailed a 3-pointer in the first minute of the second half to start a 20-4 run that gave Gorman control for good.
Bey drilled a 3-pointer and was fouled with 1:40 to go in the quarter, completing the four-point play to give Gorman (20-9) a 43-28 lead, and Clark never threatened again.
“Usually we lay back on defense,” Bey said. “This time, we tried to really put it on them.”
Chuck O’Bannon had 26 points, six rebounds, three steals and two blocked shots to lead Gorman. Christian Popoola added 15 points, seven rebounds and four assists for the Gaels, who advance to the state tournament beginning Thursday at Cox Pavilion.
Trey Woodbury had 16 points to lead Clark (25-4), which will face Sunrise Region runner-up Foothill (23-9) at 6:45 p.m. Tuesday at Valley for the final state berth.