Gatz, Harper eventually beat Daley
Better late than never.
The Harper College men's basketball team (9-1) collected a 76-61 victory over Richard J. Daley College (6-3) at the Sports and Wellness Center in Palatine on Tuesday night.
The game was delayed due to a mechanical problem with the Daley bus, which forced the preceding women's game scheduled between the same teams to be a forfeit in Harper's favor.
Freshman guard Garett Gatz (Conant) started the men's game agressively, scoring 9 of the Hawks' first 11 points on a trio of 3-pointers.
Gatz led the Hawks in scoring with 19 points, including 5 3-pointers.
“They just found me (for open shots)” Gatz said of his performance.
Later in the half, Chris Hicks (Elk Grove) connected on a 3 that triggered a 6-0 Hawks run capped by Gatz splitting a a pair of free throws. The Hawks led 41-27 at halftime.
The Bulldogs found a spark midway through the second half. With Harper leading 54-44, Daley scored the next 5 points to cut the Hawks' lead to 54-49 with just over 10 minutes to play.
Freshman Kemill Long (Hoffman Estates) put an end to the run by scoring 2 of his 12 points.
“When we play unselfishly, we are very good,” Long said.
The Bulldogs could not get any closer than 8 points the rest of the way.
The Harper men's team travels to Kankakee Community College Friday and Saturday to participate in a tournament hosted by Kankakee.