Beacon boys' basketball upsets Mariner 45-43

A crazy good middle school boys' basketball game featuring the Twin Capes of Beacon and Mariner went back and forth and came down to Captain Crunch time. Mariner had the basketball with under a minute to play when Zach Gelof picked a pocket at the top of the key and flew down the court and converted a hard layup with pressure on his back, giving Beacon a 43-39 lead. Beacon was a major underdog coming into the game against a Mariner team that had blown out undefeated Seaford two days earlier.

Randy Rickards scored on the inside for Mariner, cutting the lead to 43-41, but two free throws by Australia Mackey clinched the victory. Rickards scored a final basket at the buzzer, but Beacon prevailed 45-43.

"This team has worked hard every day to get better, and today was just a great middle school basketball game," said Beacon coach Sean O’Grady.  Mariner has some great players, and so do we."

Beacon was led in scoring by Ian Robertson with 13 and Austin Elliot with 12, and received solid efforts from Ben Ashby, Gelof, Mackey, Izaiah Dadzie, Dane Palmer and Kolbi Wright.

“I usually play more people but didn’t tonight, and I feel bad about that," O'Grady said. “Those kids who didn’t get in need to know how important they were to this big win.”

Mariner's Hassan Corbin, who can light it up like a master electrician, was in foul trouble the entire game and eventually fouled out. Point guard Elijah Daniels did a great job handling the basketball. Mariner also got solid efforts from Xavier Williams and Malik Aiken.