With or Without Parks, Marina Can’t Get Best of Gahr

For every action, there’s a reaction.

That basic law of physics applied when Marina played host to Gahr in a nonleague boys’ basketball game Friday night.

Every time Marina picked up the action and made a run to close the gap, Gahr reacted with a run of its own. After responding to rallies in the final three quarters, Gahr posted a 73-63 victory over the Vikings.

“(Gahr) beat us last year when we had Cherokee Parks and they’ve got six guys back, so I knew it’d be tough,” Marina Coach Steve Popovich said. “Without the big guy, we had to run with them a little more this time, and they’re better at that pace than we are.”

Marina (8-6) went on an 8-0 run in the second quarter to take a 25-22 lead. Gahr came back with an 8-2 run to go back on top. The Vikings started the third quarter with a 5-0 run to tie the score, 38-38, but the Gladiators reacted with an 8-0 streak.

Both teams saved their best runs for last. The Vikings closed to within 54-53 with 5 minutes 3 seconds remaining in the game after a 9-2 burst, with Vlad Nieto scoring the last two baskets.

Gahr (11-3), however, came back with poise and confidence. Brandon Titus hit a three-pointer for the Gladiators, and then hit another one after Nieto scored for Marina. Titus’ three-pointers were the catalysts for Gahr’s 10-2 run, which gave them a 64-55 lead with three minutes left.

“We got behind, we scrambled to get back in it, and Gahr responded every time,” Popovich said. “Those back-to-back threes by Titus killed us, because we had to play catch-up again and we started turning the ball over.”

Gahr switched defenses frequently, which helped slow Marina’s momentum. The Gladiators changed from a 2-3 zone to a trapping zone and to man-to-man throughout the game, which disrupted Marina’s rhythm.

Titus led all scorers with 27 points, while Brendan Lyons led Marina with 20. Darren Crooks added 17 points and nine rebounds for Marina.