By Cody Marshall

GALWAY–When basketball season starts, the most common event around the country is the intrasquad scrimmage.  Colleges do it every year, and Galway has their annual Blue and Gold Game. Each year, the basketball coaches try to split up their teams as best they can to provide for an exciting game. This year, they did it perfectly. The JV Girls’ team started on the floor first and provided a start that looked like it would be all Gold. After eight minutes of play, Gold led Blue 9-2. However, Blue wouldn’t go away easily and the Varsity Girls’ teams battled hard with Blue closing the gap to make it 15-10 heading into the Varsity Boys’ quarter. Gold won the tip and scored on their first possession when Nick Manna’s pass found a driving Cody Marshall and resulted in Marshall getting two chances from the foul line after a shooting foul. Marshall sank them both to put Gold up 17-10. From there, Blue found a groove with Shane Marshall connecting on a three-point jumper and a two-point jumper on consecutive possessions to put Blue within 2. Dan Diaz and Dylan Gregory chipped in buckets for the Gold team and Jamie Freeburn added a couple of his own to make it a 21-21 contest before Zach Hartman assisted a Cody Marshall three-pointer that put Gold up 24-21 heading into the halftime break.

The second half proved to be the most exciting basketball anyone could ask for. The JV Girls went back out on the floor and Blue managed to take a slight lead for the first time in the game. From there, the Varsity Girls went at it and Gold managed to retake the lead with help from a Bridgid McFadden three-pointer and Tegan Matthews baskets. Erica Chase led Gold in steals all night to help contribute to the effort. Entering the final stanza, Gold led 41-40. The Varsity Boys came back on the floor and provided a great ending. Nick Manna connected on the first basket of the Boys second quarter to give Gold a 43-40 lead. Then, Blue answered with a basket from Shane Marshall and an Austin Williams basket to take a 44-43 lead. However, Gold managed to answer when Cody Marshall drove into the lane and was fould going up. After two more made foul shots, Gold led 45-44. Then, Shane Marshall hit another jumper to put Blue up 46-45. At the other end, Austin Williams committed a shooting foul to put Cody Marshall back on the line and give Gold a chance to take another lead. However, Marshall made just one of two and the game stayed tied 46-46. The next possession resulted in a turnover that gave Gold the opportunity to take the lead. Cody Marshall received the ball down low from Dylan Gregory and what looked to be a clean block by Shane Marshall was ruled another shooting foul. Cody went back to the line again and sank another foul shot before missing the second to put Gold up 47-46. The following possession had Blue come away empty and Gold looked to advance up the floor until a Dan Diaz pass was deflected by Brady Smith and out of bounds with 22.1 seconds to go. With the shot clock off, Gold needed to just hold on to the ball. Zach Hartman inbounded the ball and Cody Marshall took it up the sideline and tried forcing a pass up the floor to Dylan Gregory. However, Austin Williams came up with the steal and Shane Marshall brought it the other way. Marshall’s jumper missed the mark, but was rebounded by Jamie Freebern with about 5 seconds left. Freebern put up a jumper from the elbow that hit the back of the rim, hung on the front, and then rolled off as time expired giving Gold a 47-46 win in this year’s game.

Here are the Blue and Gold Rosters from the contest:

Gold

22      Sarah Delveccio-JV Girls

42      Raven Pink-JV Girls

23      Adrianna Watrobski-JV Girls

10      Caitlyn Mattice-JV Girls

4        Shelby Suits-JV Girls

21      Sarah Ostrowski-JV Girls

32     Bridgid McFadden-Varsity Girls

14     Grace Milton-Varsity Girls

20    Tegan Matthews-Varsity Girls

40    Abby Testo-Varsity Girls

30   Erica Chase-Varsity Girls

Blue

14    Sarah Daus-JV Girls

30   Erin Breckinridge-JV Girls

13   Felicia Snyder-JV Girls

32   Jamie Countryman-JV Girls

11   Jessi Freeburn-JV Girls

20   Courtney Sowle-JV Girls

24   Kendra McDonald-Varsity Girls

22   Abby Spagnola-Varsity Girls

42   Paige Galloway-Varsity Girls

10   Lexy Hennessy-Varsity Girls

34   Morgan Ritter-Varsity Girls

44   Ariann Ceroalo-Varsity Girls

23   Jamie Freebern-Varsity Boys

32   Shane Marshall-Varsity Boys

21   Evan Ceroalo-Varsity Boys

3     Brady Smith-Varsity Boys

31   Reece Freeman-Varsity Boys

30  Austin Williams-Varsity Boys

Photos by Brian Mothon, Editor of Photography