Gibbons, streaking SJB taking it one game at a time
St. John the Baptist's Joseph Gibbons (10) shoots over Chaminade's Richard Zoller III (52). (Feb. 16, 2010) Credit: John Dunn
Eleven down, one to go.
After beating Chaminade, 72-49, Tuesday, St. John the Baptist stands just one win away from its first undefeated regular season in basketball program history.
"We understand," said Joe Gibbons, who scored 25 points and had eight assists for St. John the Baptist (11-0). "But at the same time, we're just taking it one game at a time, 'cause when the playoffs start, the regular season doesn't mean anything."
Coach Jim Plate echoed his guard's words.
"We don't care about being undefeated," he said. "We were just happy about clinching the No. 1 seed and getting the bye. Undefeated means nothing. We want to make sure we go out and win the playoffs."
The road to win No. 11 proved simpler than it looked on paper. The last time these two teams met on Jan. 19, Chaminade (7-5) led into the fourth quarter and the Cougars took the lead with 1:40 remaining on one of Khaleev Ginyard's eight three-pointers.
That was the last time Chaminade lost, and the Flyers went on a seven-game winning streak.
Before yesterday's game, Chaminade coach Jim Quinn said he didn't make any major adjustments since the two teams last met, and that his team should be fine as long as Ginyard didn't repeat his three-point frenzy.
"I just hope he doesn't shoot like that again," Quinn said, exasperated. "I mean the kid's a great shooter. But eight threes?"
Despite not finding his three-point mojo until the third quarter, Ginyard again tormented Chaminade, scoring 19 points.
"No matter what, I'm going to shoot the ball," he said. "In the first half, I was trying to get my team involved; that's how we got the lead. Once that happened, they started giving me the ball."
Dante Thompson-Smallwood added six points, seven rebounds and two assists. Kevin Hargrove had 16 points and Thomas Morgan 10 for Chaminade.
Gibbons said the biggest difference between January's nail-biter and this game was the defense.
"Last time, we gave up 35 points in the first half," he said. "This game, we played defense the whole game, not just the second half."
Ginyard's role in the defense was a difference, shutting down the point guard so Chaminade didn't have a chance to open up the offense.
Tied at six in the first quarter, St. John the Baptist used a 10-4 run to take the lead and never looked back.
In the second half, St. John the Baptist outscored Chaminade 41-27. Ginyard hit three three-pointers in a six-minute span, and Gibbons scored 13. Fourteen of Chaminade's points came with with less than four minutes remaining.
The only obstacle remaining for St. John's perfect regular slate is a meeting against Holy Trinity at 7:30 p.m. Friday.
Just one more game for the team taking it one game at a time.
