CLICK HERE if you are unable to view the photos on a mobile device
DUBLIN — Much like the start of the season, Tom Costello didn’t know what to expect from his team Wednesday night. The last time the Dublin coach instructed his players from the bench, the Gaels were soaring to a double-overtime win that clinched a league championship.
But more than a week had passed since then, enough time to collect the rust coaches fear, especially at playoff time.
Making matters even more interesting, Costello found himself at the top of a 12-foot ladder during warmups, putting his electrical skills to use to fix the shot clock above one of the backboards, all while spectators in a packed Dublin gym looked on.
“My manly hood was definitely on the line there,” Costello said, laughing.
He got the job done and then his players did, too.
Dublin’s first five baskets came from each of its five starters and the Gaels held off Campolindo at every turn for a 64-55 victory that moved the top seed into the inaugural North Coast Section Open Division final.
The Gaels will play No. 3 seed Bishop O’Dowd, a winner over Salesian on Tuesday, for the championship Friday night at Saint Mary’s College.
“I told ’em what we got was a bunch of guys that were tired of playing against each other for 10 days,” Costello said. “They wanted to play against some new guys. The intensity defensively, the communication was phenomenal.”
Dublin scored the first seven points in a blink — Anthony Roy in the low block, Jaden Saunders from 3, Nick Costello drive — and never relinquished the advantage.
The Gaels (23-5) led by as many as nine points but did not allow Campolindo to get closer than three.
Roy led Dublin with 19 points. Devon Jackson added 16 and Malik Jackson had 12, including six free throws in as many attempts down the stretch.
“We’ve been working hard every day in practice,” Roy said. “So it’s almost like we didn’t have those days off.”
Roy, a 6-4 senior, clearly was on top of his game, using his athleticism and superb body control to get to the basket whenever a lane opened.
His teammates did the same.
“They’re hard to guard,” Campo coach Steven Dyer said. “They have a lot of guys that are good players and can shoot the 3 well and are quick off the dribble. There’s a reason why they’re the No. 1 seed in NCS. They have a lot of good players on their team.”
Campo (22-6) has good players, too. Aidan Mahaney sizzled so much that Dublin fans shouted “get on 20” any time there was a chance the sophomore might get the ball.
Mahaney sank five 3-pointers and finished with 27 points.
When the 6-3 Campo star made like a skyscraper to grab a rebound and put back a shot as the third quarter ended — all in one leap — Dublin’s lead was down to 48-45.
“He definitely answered the call tonight,” Dyer said about Mahaney. “Played really well on both ends, honestly.”
Campo had three empty possessions to start the final period, a crucial stretch that could have put the visitors in front for the first time.
Soon, Dublin took command.
Roy’s short jumper made it 50-45 and a jumper from Devon Jackson stretched the margin to 52-45 with 5:11 to go.
Mahaney’s 3-pointer pulled Campo to within four, but that was as tight as the score would get.
Mahaney’s older brother, Carter, finished with 10 points but never got into a rhythm that could have made a difference.
Costello praised his team’s defensive effort on the older Mahaney, who scored 22 points in the previous round.
When the season began, Costello wasn’t sure what to make of his team, which many thought would take a dip after its leading scorer from last season, Robby Beasley, transferred to league rival Dougherty Valley for his senior season.
But the coach knows now.
“What we have are guys who have bought in, playing a certain way, moving the ball and sharing the ball,” Costello said. “And you have a group of guys who have bought into the defensive side of the ball. That’s the main difference.”
Friday night, the Gaels will try to win their first NCS title.
