Basketball

BULLDOGS CRUISE PAST GECKOS

Okkodo avenges early-season loss to GW

by
GSPN
February 9, 2024

By Carmen Gogue

The Okkodo Bulldogs defended their home court beating the George Washington Geckos 61-46 Friday night in the ISA Boys Basketball League.

Both teams came into the game in a three-way tie for first place, along with the Sanchez Sharks, at 4-1. The Sharks fell to the JFK Islanders 67-56, leaving Okkodo alone at the top of the league at 5-1.

Monte Cabrera scored a game-high 22 points and had eight rebounds for the Bulldogs. Teammate Robbie Haggard contributed 15 points.

The Geckos appeared to have two of their top players out of rotation, Darnell Camacho and Dj Osborne. Osborne is still out due to a minor injury.

Maintaining a steady lead, Okkodo ended the first half up 26-20. The third quarter is where the Bulldogs found a strong scoring rhythm, making their offense incomparable.

GW’s Kaden Apiag opened the third quarter sinking a three pointer to decrease the Bulldogs lead 26-23 but the Bulldogs were quick to respond.

Cabrera answered right back, attacking the basket for two-points and making both his free throws from a foul call in the following play. Teammate Haggard found his stroke, hitting big back-to-back three pointers to give the Bulldogs a 10-0 run lead 36-23 over the Geckos.

With a 10-0 run lead, the Bulldogs continued to control the pace for the remainder of the game with tough defense and consistent scoring. “All we wanted to do was keep our defense and find our shots,” said Monte Cabrera.

Daran Treltas and Apiag battled through the Bulldogs defense to add points to the scoreboard, but Cabrera and Haggard continued to boost Okkodo’s lead ending the third 48-33.

The Geckos attempted to hold on in the final quarter despite the pressuring momentum of the Bulldogs.

The first quarter looked to have started slow for both teams, going back and forth between scoring. By the end of the first, it was the Bulldogs on top with a short three point lead 13-11.

In the second quarter, Kaden Apiag hit a three-pointer with a smooth drive to the basket to put the Geckos up by three 16-13. The Bulldogs quickly acted with a 7-0 run putting them up 20-16.

With the Geckos only scoring two baskets to try and cut the deficit, the Bulldogs went on another 6-0 run to end the second quarter 26-20.