Stanley, Gaels rally to tournament title

Ronnie Stanley doesn't always get a ton of minutes on a stacked Bishop Gorman boys basketball team.

But the sophomore post player made his presence felt Saturday night.

The 6-foot-7-inch, 275-pound Stanley had 10 of his 12 points in the second half to help the Gaels rally for a 61-54 victory over Bishop McNamara (Md.) in the championship game of the Bishop Gorman Holiday Classic.

"We just had a feeling that Ronnie was going to have a good matchup against their big guy, (Brandon) Coleman, who's also a football player," Gorman coach Grant Rice said. "We've got a lot of guys on any given night that can come out and play."

Stanley, a starting offensive lineman on Gorman's state championship football team, also pulled down five rebounds.

"He has really good touch, a really good feel for the game and his footwork is so good," Rice said. "(Football) coach (Tony) Sanchez, that's why he put him at left tackle with those quick feet. He got those quick feet playing basketball."

The Gaels, who trailed 26-21 at halftime, inserted Stanley into the post in the second half. That helped open things up for seniors Johnathan Loyd and Anson Winder, who each scored 12 points after halftime.

Loyd didn't score in the first half and missed several minutes with an injured right ankle. He finished with seven assists and three steals and was named the tournament's Most Valuable Player.

Contact Prep Sports Editor Damon Seiters at dseiters@reviewjournal.com or 702-380-4587.