BRADFORD 59, GATEWAY 51

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Nov. 30, 2007 - First Round of the Bradford Tournament

BRADFORD – Led by 6’3 senior swingman Ryan LaBrozzi’s 19 points, the Bradford Owls topped the Gateway Gators 59-51 in the opening round of the Bradford Tip-Off Tournament Friday night. 

LaBrozzi scored 12 of his 19 points in the fourth quarter after Gateway stormed back to take a 1-point lead at 40-39 early in the quarter. 

“Ryan really stepped up big for us when we needed it and the game was on the line,” Owls coach Dave Fuhrman said.  “That’s what you hope your senior leaders will do." 

LaBrozzi also had nine rebounds and nine assists, narrowly missing a triple double. 

Drew Kelly added 14 points and Randy Confer chipped in with 13 points for the Owls. 

“Gateway is a Class AAAA school with good size and athleticism,” Fuhrman said. “So it was a good win for us.”

Bradford will take on Highlands, who defeated Latrobe 81-59, in the championship game at 6 p.m. Saturday.

It is a little bit of a homecoming of sorts for Fuhrman, who coached four seasons as an assistant at Highlands before coming to Bradford. The Highlanders are the defending tournament champions and are ranked No. 2 in the preseason WPIAL Class AAA rankings by the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette.

BRADFORD 59, GATEWAY 51

Score By Quarters

Gateway    4    16    16    15      51

Bradford    13   16    10    20      59

Gateway – 51

Williams 1-0-2-2, Bridgett 1-0-0-2, Vranka 2-0-0-6, Cottrell 5-1-2-11, Mike Kromka 1-2-3-5, Keel 6-0-2-12, Joe Kromka 6-0-1-13. Totals 22-3-10-51

3Pt. FG:  Vranka 2, Mike Kromka 1

Bradford – 59

Taylor 2-2-4-6, LaBrozzi 7-4-7-19, Kelly 6-0-0-14, Teribery 0-0-0-0, Mackey 0-0-0-0, Fuhrman 1-0-0-2, Lanich 2-1-2-5, Confer 6-1-1-13. Totals 24-8-14-59

3Pt. FG:  Kelly 2, LaBrozzi 1