Gators edge Branson in overtime thriller

Charlie Selna's first reaction was to glance over at his father, Brian, who was sitting in the front row of the bleachers. Then he caught sight of Sister Sally, joyously leaping in the air and his heart soared.

"That made my whole season," Selna said of seeing the retired nun with whom he had made friends. "She came to the game and was so excited."

 

Sacred Heart Prep's 55-53 victory over visiting Branson means another CIF state NorCal Division II regional game. 

The third-seeded Gators (25-5) travel to play No. 2 St. Patrick-St. Vincent (24-10) in a semifinal game at 7 p.m. Saturday. It's a rematch of SHP's season-opener at the Crusader Classic.

"I remember they're big and athletic," Selna said. "That was my first day with the basketball team and I just went out and played."

With about 30 seconds remaining in the second overtime and holding a 2-point edge, SHP coach Tony Martinelli went over strategy with his team during a final timeout.

"We wanted to run them off the 3-point line and make them take a hard shot inside or force a mistake in the paint," SHP point guard Aidan Braccia said. "I'm just so proud of all the guys and proud of our defense."

The Gators did force a difficult shot but Branson hit it to tie the game with 12 seconds left. There was no hesitation on the Gators part as they got the ball in and up the court in a hurry. 

Braccia looked for his shot and then dished off to Everett Banks, who threaded a pass inside to Selna.

"I knew it was going in," Braccia said. "He made that shot for the team, the school and the community."

"That's what I love about seniors," Martinelli said. "He's not playing in college and he understands the finality of it. You just get it to the right guy to score the last basket."

Braccia hit three of four free throws in the final 29 seconds of regulation to give the Gators a 47-45 advantage and then played effective enough defense that Branson could not get off a good shot. SHP knocked the ball out of bounds under the Branson basket with four seconds left. 

The Gators caused a turnover on the inbound play but when Harrison Carrington dove to corral a loose ball, he was called for traveling. Branson received a lifeline with 2.5 seconds left and made a nice play for the tying basket.

Neither team could score in the first overtime and it wasn't for lack of trying. Jump shots, layups and free throws were all off the mark.

"It was a defensive grind for both teams," Selna said. "We both came to play."

"That's as good as it gets," Martinelli said. "You live for games like that. Sometimes I just watch this team practice and you see it translate into games. I love getting to the office, getting film together, putting a game plan together and then playing the next game. This is why we coach."

And Sister Sally is why some athletes play.