When Gerstell Academy coach Jeff Cheevers saw his team’s matchup with Maryland Interscholastic Athletic Association B Conference foe Concordia Prep on the horizon, he instantly knew the challenge the Saints presented.
“We knew they were very athletic and very deep with guards,” Cheevers said.
With injuries, illness and holiday vacations leaving the Falcons shorthanded, the challenge was made even tougher as only seven players dressed for this week’s games.
Colin Toms didn’t let it bother him. He scored 19 points and added seven rebounds as the Falcons moved to 2-0 in the conference with a 54-51 win Wednesday night.
“It was a long game,” Toms said. “But we knew we had to dig deep and fight through adversity.”
After a back-and-forth first quarter that closed with the Falcons up three, Toms and Caleb Franze sparked a 5-0 run to open the second. Franze, who finished with 20 points, was often smothered by multiple Saints guards. When the Falcons needed a bucket, a quick pick-and-roll between the two quickly became Cheevers’ go-to call.
Looking for a league win of their own before the Christmas break, the Saints responded with a run of their own. The stretch could best be described as the “Presley Prettyman show,” as he knocked down shot after shot with 11 of his 17 points coming in the second quarter. With Prettyman leading the way, the Saints trimmed the lead to five by halftime.
For the second straight quarter, the Falcons came out firing, scoring five straight as Franze hit a deep 3-pointer and then found Toms in the paint for another inside shot for the big man.
“My job is to be a presence inside,” Toms said. “It’s up to me to do the little things inside and open others up for shots.”
With the light blue tape covering the shoulder of the school’s all-time leading scorer, Franze found a way to contribute even when shots were hard to get. Along with his 20 points, the senior added six rebounds and three assists on the night as he battled through the injury.
Cheevers was not surprised at his players’ ability to adapt and excel despite some strange circumstances this week.
“They’re great kids,” he said. “They work extremely hard, they’re coachable. The success we’re having right now is all because of that and I give them all the credit.”
Toms admitted the struggles that came with playing a lot of minutes thanks to having such a limited bench.
“It was really rough,” he said. “Second half I was cramping in my calves pretty bad. So it was a long game, had to fight through adversity be up for the challenge.”
Although the Falcons showed toughness and grit, the Saints showed heart as they went on a run late in the third quarter to take the lead with a minute left. Noah Robinson joined Prettyman as he made tough shots that helped trim a double-digit deficit. Despite the size disadvantage, the Saints rebounded and then immediately pushed the pace to keep the Falcons tired.
Finishing the quarter tied, both teams needed to dig deep and find that extra gear to bring home the victory.
That extra gear came from Toms, who turned from a big man who was merely having his number called to a game-changer who demanded his number be called down the stretch. His aggressiveness and urgency added another layer to the Falcons, something Cheevers knows can change the course of the season should the big man continue to develop.
“He’s going to give us another dimension,” he said. “Obviously, everybody knows about Caleb and what he can do, but when we have that inside presence and a guy that really wants the ball, it opens up so many other things for the other guys on the floor.”
With Franze putting the game away with six consecutive free throws, Gerstell hung on after Damon Rowlette’s shot to tie the game at the buzzer missed.
Now with another conference win in 2023, the Falcons can look forward to resting up and getting healthy during a small break. When they return to the court, the team should be as confident as ever after a gritty win and the emergence of players like Toms.
“Games like this test your character and force you to step up,” Cheevers said. “I was proud of the way we pulled it out tonight.”
Gerstell Academy 54, Concordia Prep 51
GA: Caleb Franze (20), Colin Toms (19), Malcolm Wingo (6), Tyson Galloway (3), Ben Martin (2), Dylan Nee (2), Gavin Zemencik (2).
CP: Noah Robinson (19), Presley Prettyman (17), Damon Rowlette (7), Josh King (4), Cameron Jones (2), Ken Lucas (2).
