BUCS REGROUP IN SECOND HALF TO GET PAST CRUSADERS

This was a gut check for both teams.

After grind-it-out league losses Friday night, Mission Bay and Mater Dei Catholic had to dial it up a notch and play each other Saturday afternoon for the long-delayed championship of the National City Host Lions Club Frank Pekarek Tournament championship at Sweetwater High.

So just about 17 hours after No. 6-ranked Mission Bay lost a hard-fought Western League boys basketball game to No. 1 St. Augustine, the Bucs had to face No. 9 Mater Dei Catholic, which

Mission Bay 61, Mater Dei Catholic 40 lost a two-point Mesa League decision to Eastlake.

Mater Dei Catholic had the early energy, rolling to a 10-point lead, but Mission Bay used huge runs in the final three quarters to get close, then pull out a 61-40 win in a game that was scheduled for Dec. 23, but was pushed back because Mater Dei Catholic had committed to play in the Tip-off Night of the Torrey Pines Holiday Classic on Dec. 23.

“We needed to regain our focus, put Friday night behind us,” said Mission Bay coach Marshawn Cherry. “We made a lot of mistakes early, but when we lock in, we play really good defense.”

Mater Dei Catholic (9-5) sprinted to a 19-9 lead, forcing six first-quarter Mission Bay turnovers.

But the Bucs (14-5) went on a 13-0 run to take a lead, later had a 14-2 run in the third quarter to take a 10point lead, and had a 13-2 fourth-quarter run to lock up the game.

Mater Dei Catholic had just 12 turnovers, but 10 of those came in the second and third quarters.

“Basketball is a game of runs,” said Mission Bay junior Gelo Gil, who had 27 points and 12 rebounds despite playing with a heavily taped right leg.

“Mater Dei Catholic can play. But at the half (trailing 28-26) we had a good talk. We had to put Friday night behind us. We needed to play great defense.

“We did that in the third and fourth quarters and took over the game.”

Gil was named the tournament’s MVP after the Bucs beat San Dieguito Academy, Chula Vista, Otay Ranch and Sweetwater.

Sophomore Charlie Hutchinson, who had eight points at the half, finished with 22 points, including 11 in the third quarter, and 10 rebounds for Mission Bay.

Mission Bay outrebounded Mater Dei Catholic 45-23. Marcos Korch had nine rebounds and Charlie Grebing grabbed six for the Bucs.

“I wasn’t great in the first half,” Hutchinson said. “Gelo is a great leader. He got into us pretty good at the half. That motivated me.

“After a slow start, we played great defense, went on some runs, and Mater Dei never came back.”

Mater Dei Catholic was playing without two starters — Isaiah Jefferson and football player Brian Dukes — who were out with injuries.

“Friday was an ugly, turnover-filled game,” said Mater Dei Catholic coach

Jason Bryant. “We needed to bounce back from that.”

KJ Gonzalez led the Crusaders with 21 points and was named to the all-tournament team along with his brother Kris.

Rami Anglo was an alltournament pick for Mission Bay.

The road to the playoffs doesn’t get easier for either team.

Mission Bay hosts No. 10 San Diego on Tuesday and No. 4 Cathedral Catholic on Friday.

Mater Dei Catholic hosts No. 7 San Ysidro on Wednesday and 13-4 Montgomery on Friday.

john.maffei@sduniontribune.com