Gallagher, BeeGraphix go back to back
By JOSE NEGRON
jnegron@yourmvi.com
Top-seeded BeeGraphix rolled to its second straight Mon Valley Independent Summer Basketball League boys division title with a convincing 80-55 victory over Elite Physical Therapy Thursday night at Marx’s Court Time Sports Center.
BeeGraphix (9-3) took a commanding 40-28 lead into halftime and continued the onslaught in the second half of play, outscoring EPT (7-5) by a 13-point margin to claim the division crown.
“When you come out here, the goal is obviously to play for a championship, and we thought we made the right moves in the offseason to bring a group together that we had confidence in,” BeeGraphix head coach Tim Tyree said. “I really think we proved that tonight.”
The now two-time champions featured five players in double figures, including two-time MVISBL MVP Rodney Gallagher III. The Laurel Highlands standout netted a team-high 23 points to go along with his seven assists and five rebounds.
“Me and my teammates fought all game to get it done,” Gallagher said. “It was another great season and another great team performance.”
After seeing a few players depart from last year’s championship team, including former Chartiers Valley standout Brayden Reynolds, Tyree and his coaching staff brought in the necessary pieces to complement returning starters in Gallagher and Belle Vernon Area’s Quinton Martin.
They drafted the likes of Savion Stroud (Chartiers Valley), Jayden Pratt (Laurel Highlands) and Chris Barrish (Carmichaels), and acquired Shea Champine (Bishop Canevin) and Anthony Waddell (Central Catholic) in separate trades.
All of BeeGraphix’s players, both old and new, contributed in the the championship-clinching triumph. Pratt scored all of his 14 points in the second half, while Stroud finished with 12 points. Martin notched a double-double with 11 points and 12 boards, and Champine chipped in 11 points against his former team. Barrish (5) and Waddell (4) combined to add nine points.
“We had balanced scoring all year and it seemed like every night a different guy would step up,” Tyree said. “This isn’t easy to do, winning back-to-back championships, but these kids did a great job in making it happen.”
Elite Physical Therapy was led by the play of South Allegheny junior Bryce Epps, who matched Gallagher with a 23-point performance. Steel Valley’s Makhai Valentine added an 11-point, 15-rebound showing, while SA freshman Cameron Epps added nine points.
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