Gaels take Round 1

Spencer Patterson

Tuesday, Dec. 19, 2000 | 10:55 a.m.

As much as for their size, depth or outside shooting, the Bishop Gorman Gaels are odds-on favorites to repeat as Nevada 4A state champions because of their wealth of senior leadership.

But on Monday night, when Texas' Lanier High gave the Gaels all they could handle in the first round of the Powerade Holiday Prep Classic, the locals turned to the lone junior in their starting lineup to bail them out.

Guard C.J. Watson -- often overshadowed by Gorman headliners Jason Carter, Justin Burns and Dinard Taylor -- took center stage on this night, scoring 21 points on 10-of-13 shooting from the field, grabbing 12 rebounds and coming up with nine steals to help the Gaels to a 70-64 overtime victory.

"C.J. basically took us on his back and said, 'I'm not going to let us lose,' " Gorman coach Bob Hubbard said. "He really stepped up big, and we really needed him to."

As he usually does, the 6-2 Watson started the contest at the two-guard position, keying the Gaels' transition game with his quick hands and heightened defensive awareness.

But when things got tight late in the contest, Hubbard moved Watson to the point. Immediately, good things began to happen.

Trailing 43-41, the Gaels responded with a 10-0 surge, with Watson finding Taylor and forward Brandon Knott for baskets inside, then putting in a missed shot to put the locals ahead, 51-43 with six minutes remaining.

Watson went to the bench for a breather, and the results were nothing short of disastrous. The Gaels committed turnovers on four straight possessions and Lanier took advantage, pulling within a point and forcing Hubbard to take a timeout to re-insert Watson.

"I wanted to get back in a hurry so I could help us get our lead back," Watson said.

Watson's presence paid quick dividends once again, as the junior scored his club's remaining eight points in regulation -- two off offensive rebounds -- to get them into the overtime session. Once there, he scored two more baskets and assisted on a game-ending alley-oop dunk by Carter to seal the win.

"We're thankful we got the win," Watson said. "We had to step up to the competition."

Watson also stepped into a leadership role, something he said came naturally after last summer's Big Time Tournament experience. In that event, Gorman seniors Carter, Burns, Taylor and Paul Bania played for other squads, forcing Watson to take the team's reigns into his capable hands.

"I know my teammates accept me as a leader," Watson said. "But we all need to be leaders -- every one of us."

The Gaels (7-0) advance to play California's Modesto Christian in the Millennium Cup quarterfinal round, tonight at 6:55 at Durango High School. The winner will likely get a semifinal matchup with Virginia's Oak Hill Academy, the nation's top-ranked team, assuming the Warriors don't slip up in their quarterfinal contest against Fremont (Calif.) tonight.

As for Watson, the junior may have done wonders for own college prospects while helping his club stay alive in the tournament. His exploits did not go unnoticed by the likes of recruiting expert Bob Gibbons, who quickly put him on his list of players to watch.

But Watson said he's not worried about such matters at the moment.

"When we first came in, I saw (Kentucky coach) Tubby Smith out there, but I try to block that stuff out," Watson said. "Right now, we're just looking forward to our next game, and hopefully a matchup with Oak Hill."