Pirates Fall to Gunnison in Hard-Fought Contest
The Olathe High School boys’ varsity basketball team faced a tough challenge on Saturday afternoon, falling to the Gunnison Cowboys 61-55 in a closely contested league matchup. Despite a valiant effort and a barrage of three-pointers, the Pirates couldn’t overcome missed opportunities and a stifling Gunnison interior defense.
Game Recap
The Pirates started the game with energy jumping out to an early lead off a pair of 3's by Isaiah and Elijah Gordon but the Cowboys would fight back. The Pirates would take a 1 point lead into the second at 12-11.
The second quarter would mirror the start of the first with the Pirates striking first, but the Cowboys would hang in there just enough to keep it close and would pull even right at the half to lock the game at 27-27. ,
The 3rd quarter would break the cycle, this time with the cowboys jumping out to an early lead. Isaiah Gordon wouldn't let his team be left behind as he went for 6 in the quarter and assisted on a teammates triple leading to a 37-38 deficient at the break.
Entering the 4th the game would open up, unfortunately more for Gunnison than Olathe. The Cowboys packed the paint, making it difficult for the Pirates to score inside. Olathe shot just 6-for-25 from inside the arc, none of which came in the 4th, as Gunnison clogged the lane and altered shots as they extended their lead. Just when Gunnison thought they would be able to coast the victory the Pirates made their move continuing to strike from beyond the arc with two 3-pointers from Isaiah and Elijah each.
Adding to the challenge, the Pirates struggled at the free-throw line, missing 7 critical attempts throughout the game. These missed opportunities loomed large in the game’s final minutes as Olathe's comeback would fall 6 points short.
Key Performances
- Isaiah Gordon: 26 points, 6 three-pointers, 6 rebounds, 5 assists, 2 steals, 2 blocks
- Elijah Gordon: 12 points, 4 three-pointers, 4 steals, 3 assists
- Santiago Sanchez: 3 points, 6 rebounds, 2 assists, 1 steal
Coach Hill reflected on the game, saying, “We fought hard and had our chances, but the missed free throws and our struggles inside hurt us. The boys kept battling, and we’ll use this as a learning experience to get better.”
Looking Ahead
The Pirates will look to bounce back as they continue league play on Tuesday with a game on the road against Cedaredge. With improvements in execution and free-throw shooting, the team aims to turn these close contests into wins.
Olathe fans are encouraged to continue supporting the team as they push forward in their season.
Go Pirates!
