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Virginia power edges Gorman

All it took to end Bishop Gorman's undefeated season: three Division I recruits, a three-overtime game the previous night and, ultimately, one of the top teams in Virginia.

Arlington's Bishop O'Connell knocked off the Gaels in the championship game of the Bishop Gorman Holiday Classic, parlaying an 18-6 run to close the first half into an

83-71 victory.

Not surprisingly, the Knights' early run came just as 6-foot-10-inch center Frank Ben-Eze found his groove after coming off the bench, like he had for every tournament game after sickness sidelined him earlier in the week.

Even after O'Connell coach Joe Wooten offered Ben-Eze his starting spot back, Ben-Eze declined.

"I felt coming off the bench gave me the opportunity to read the game for us," said Ben-Eze, who has committed to Harvard, after scoring 19 points and collecting 12 rebounds. "It lets me see how I can help the team.

"I know that if we want to win a championship, it has to be a 'we' thing."

Further inhibiting the inside game for Gorman (10-1) was the absence of 6-5 center Jordan Hill for the latter part of the first half after he committed his second foul.

"It certainly changed things," Gaels coach Grant Rice said. "But the thing is, we're always going to be pretty small this year. We just have to be ready for that -- it's gonna happen.

"We have to get used to playing sometimes without our big."

Not every opponent is going to have two "supporting" players like O'Connell has, though. When tournament Most Valuable Player Ben-Eze was on the bench, the Knights relied on Georgetown-bound senior Jason Clark and North Carolina early commit Kendall Marshall.

Clark had 30 points and six rebounds, and Marshall, a sophomore, had 15 points and eight assists.

"Having the three of us makes it very easy for the rest of the team," Clark said. "If I kick it to Kendall, I know he's going to do something with it. If he gives it to me, he knows I'll do something with it. And Frank, he does everything."

Said Rice, whose Gaels were led by John Loyd off the bench with 14 points: "Not only are they talented, but they're very fundamental; they play the right way. It's good for us to play them. Don't get me wrong -- I'm not satisfied with the outcome of the game. But I think we'll learn from it."

Spring Valley 66, Bishop Timon (N.Y.) 50 -- At the Bishop Gorman Holiday Classic, the Grizzlies shot 15 of 18 from the free-throw line and cruised.

Jason Walter scored 15 points, Marcus Moore 13 and David Carroll 12 for Spring Valley.

Faith Lutheran 60, Elko 46 -- At the Bishop Gorman Holiday Classic, Diontea Wright had 15 points to lead the Crusaders.

Chase Saunders scored 12 and Brett Lubbe 11 for Faith Lutheran.

Foothill 70, Mesa 55 -- At the Bishop Gorman Holiday Classic, the Falcons got a big game from 5-7 guard Earl Jones.

Jones had 22 points in the rout, and Foothill shot 22 of 32 from the free-throw line.

Clark 54, Pahrump Valley 52 -- At Clark, Dimarko Shoulders hit two free throws with 10 seconds left to seal the win for the Chargers.

Isidro Garcia had 23 points to lead Clark, and teammate Steven Dancy had 15 points. Marvin Weekly scored 15 for the Trojans.

Findlay Prep 91, Centennial 33 -- At Findlay Prep, Curtis Dennis had 21 points as the Pilots rolled.

Jorge Gutierrez scored 15 points, Clarence Trent 13, Deividas Dulkys 12, DeAndre Liggins 11 and Carlos Lopez 10 for Findlay.

Adam Young led Centennial with eight points.

GIRLS

Pahrump Valley 59, Clark 27 -- At Clark, the Trojans outscored the Chargers 44-11 in the second half to secure the victory.

Brittney Lindgren had 21 points to lead Pahrump, and Megan Meads scored 12 for the Trojans.

Chantelle Robinson had 12 points to lead Clark.

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