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Gallick’s game-winner caps dramatic Jersey Shore comeback

Damian Williams of Jersey Shore celebrates scoring against Wyalusing at Hughesville High School Dec. 29, 2021. DAVE KENNEDY/Sun-Gazette

HUGHESVILLE–A day after experiencing physical agony, Tristan Gallick experienced euphoria. He lived a player’s dream and made a dramatic, last-second, game-winning basket, helping Jersey Shore win a thriller.

Really, though, Gallick simply was elated because Jersey Shore won. A team with all the pieces to be a district title contender had lost five straight games, but the way it fought back Wednesday against Wyalusing could provide both a launching pad and a springboard. If so, what a way to begin that journey back. And that journey started with Jersey Shore coming all the way back and pulling itself out of a big hole.

A day after battling the stomach flu, Gallick scored 13 of his 17 points in the fourth quarter and drilled the game-winning 3-pointer with 8.3 seconds remaining as Jersey Shore erased a 17-point halftime deficit and stunned defending District 4 Class AA champion Wyalusing, 57-54 at the Bill Babcock Christmas Tournament. All the Bulldogs produced spirited second-half performances and Jersey Shore (2-5) reached Thursday’s championship against Hughesville.

“I didn’t even care if I had zero points. I don’t care about the shot. I just care about winning,” Gallick said. “We just need to get something rolling, so this was the perfect chance. It felt good. This is a momentum-changer for sure.”

“Maybe we found something with this. This could be that something we need. I’m hoping that’s what it is,” Jersey Shore coach Scott Munro said. “I tell these guys all the time, I believe in their talent.”

Damian Williams of Jersey Shore puts up a shot against Wyalusing at Hughesville High School Dec. 29, 2021. DAVE KENNEDY/Sun-Gazette

That talent, as well as determination and belief, came shining through during a second half in which Jersey Shore outscored Wyalusing, 37-17. The Bulldogs turned up the defense, utilizing a full-court press and started chipping away in the third quarter, pulling within eight points entering the fourth. Then after struggling offensively for three quarters, Jersey Shore really came alive, scored 24 points and connected on 5 of 7 3-pointers.

Gallick led the charge.

The senior point guard spent much of Tuesday vomiting and was far from 100 percent Wednesday. He was held scoreless during the first half before scoring four in the third quarter. He then shook off the early struggles, put his illness behind him and dominated the final eight minutes. Gallick missed just two shots during the fourth quarter and calmly drained both ends of a 1-and-1 at the foul line, tying the game, 54-54 with 78 seconds left.

After Damian McAllister rebounded a missed Wyalusing 3-point attempt, Jersey Shore called timeout at the 54-second mark. The Bulldogs patiently worked the ball and called another timeout 18 seconds later. They then produced a close shot in front of the basket, but it rimmed out. Alertly, Spencer Brion hustled after the ball, rebounded it and spotted Gallick on the left wing. Gallick never hesitated and swished the game winner with 8.3 seconds remaining.

Wyalusing had a shot to tie in the final four seconds but Damian Williams knocked an entry pass free and Jersey Shore clinched a potential game-changing victory.

DAVE KENNEDY/Sun-Gazette Jersey Shore's Damian Williams tries to score against Wyalusing during Wednesday's game.

“When he (Brion) got the rebound I already knew he would see me. He’s good at finding people, so I knew I just had to make this shot and I was fortunate that it went in,” Gallick said. “We’ve been battling every game. We start out slow, but we always fight back. It’s just something where we to stop doing that. If we just play the whole game the way we did in the second half we can win any game.”

Gallick scored all 17 of his points in the second half and added four assists and two steals. He had a hand in 16 of the teamás 24 points, also dealing an assist to Cayden Hess who drained a 3-pointer which pulled Jersey Shore within two points two minutes into the fourth quarter.

“Tristan went on a run there. I keep telling him he doesn’t understand how dynamic he is and how much he’s our motor. He makes us go and even if he’s not scoring, if he’s just putting pressure on defenses and attacking defenses that helps us go,” Munro said. “We’re not nearly as good on offense as we are when he’s attacking. He makes us work.”

Everything started working in the second half. The Bulldogs wreaked havoc with their press and forced 10 turnovers, including six in the fourth quarter. They played hard and unselfishly, working for good shots and displaying a strong inside-outside game.

Williams (12 points, 9 rebounds) was clutch in the fourth quarter, scoring five late points and converting a 3-point play to make it 53-52 with 1:35 left. McAllister provided 12 points and eight rebounds off the bench and made a critical steal after Wyalusing had gone on a 5-0 run and built a six-point lead with three minutes left. Hess made two fourth-quarter 3-pointers and added seven rebounds off the bench while Kaimen West played strong defense and Kyle Mundrick added a key 3-pointer when Jersey Shore started making its move in the third quarter.

DAVE KENNEDY/Sun-Gazette Jersey Shore's Tate Sechrist looks to score against Wyalusing during Wednesday's game at Hughesville.

Every player had his part in the comeback and that made this win, especially gratifying.

“We don’t want one person scoring all the time,” Gallick said. “We want everyone to be rolling.”

Jersey Shore really rolled over the final three minutes, outscoring Wyalusing 10-1. Williams scored five straight points after Wyalusing went up six. After Kashawn Cameron’s free throw put Wyalusing ahead, Gallick was fouled and his ensuing free throws tied the game. Jersey Shore forced a long shot on the next Rams possession and surrendered just seven second-half field goals.

“The thing to hang our hat on was our defensive effort in the second half. We’ve really struggled to be fundamentally sound on defense all year and I think in the second half we finally got to where we should be.”

WYALUSING (54)

Grayden Cobb 7 2-3 16, Blake Morningstar 12 5-7 29, Kashawn Cameron 0 1-2 1, Abram Bennett 2 0-0 5, Hunter Moss 1 0-0 3. Totals 22 8-12 54.

JERSEY SHORE (57)

Tristan Gallick 6 2-2 17, Damian McCallister 5 0-2 10, Damian Williams 5 2-7 12, Owen Bloom 1 1-2 3, Cayden Hess 3 0-0 9, Mason Miller 0 0-0 0, Kyle Mundrick 1 0-0 3, Kaimen West 0 0-1 0, Karter Peacock 0 0-0 0, Spencer Brion 1 0-0 3. Totals 22 5-14 57.

Wyalusing 14 23 4 13ä54

Jersey Shore 11 9 13 24ä57

3-pointers: Wyalusing 2 (Bennett, Moss); Jersey Shore 8 (Gallick 3, Hess 3, Mundrick, Brion).

Records: Jersey Shore 2-5. Wyalusing 4-3.

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