Drake Wins First Play-Off Game Against Branson

The rain may have made the home court slippery (and caused a few clean-up delays), but it didn't slow down the Pirates for too long.

After finishing the first half up just one point, 17-16, over the Bulls, Drake pulled away in the third quarter and was able to maintain that lead, eventually winning its first play-off game 55-38. The win -- the third time Drake beat Branson this season -- sends Drake into the MCAL semi-finals against Marin Catholic.

"We definitely started playing more our game in the second half," said Drake Coach Doug Donnellan. "We played an all-around great second half."

Branson lead 8-2 at the start of the first half, but Drake went on a 12-0 run at the start of the second half that changed the game.

Along with the strong defense the Pirates displayed throughout the first two quarters, a couple of two-pointers from Jeremy Steele at the start of the second half turned the tide. Branson never got the momentum back and started to get sloppy.

By the time the Bulls hit 10 fouls near the beginning of the last period, Drake was visiting the free throw line and sinking shots frequently enough to tip the balance of the game. Drake shot 72.7 percent from the free throw line with 33 chances. By comparison, Branson made it to the line only 12 times and made only 58.3 percent of its free throws.

"We don't generally get to the line that much," said Donnellan, though his team demonstrated a focus on the basics, making nearly every free throw they got.

Neal Chavez, Steele, Ryan and Joey Euphrat, Jasper Marshall, who made four out of four, and Austin Buck (with an old-fashioned underhand free throw shot) all visited the line.

Chavez, usually a bench player, particularly stood out, Donnellan said, with a number of big shots in the first quarter that helped keep Drake in the game. He was the lead scorer of the game with 16 points and 80 percent from the field. He, then, controlled the court in the second half, setting up assists and directing the defense.

The second half was everything Donnellan would have wanted in his team, but it will take two halves as the Pirates progress in the MCAL tournament. With a bye in the first round, this game was the first for Drake -- meaning there were a number of nerves to be worked out. 

"We've just got to relax," he said.

Drake plays Marin Catholic in the semi-finals at Redwood on Friday at 7:30 p.m.