Gateway’s Curtis Dowers (23) takes a jump shot from the corner with a Monson hand attempting to block his path. (Photo by Chris Putz)
MONSON – Gateway Regional’s postseason run came to a stumbling halt on the road Tuesday.
No. 10 Gateway, winners of the Tri-County League, fell to seventh-seeded Monson 61-36 in the opening round of the Western Massachusetts Division 4 boys’ basketball tournament.
Curtis Dowers and Mike Arel led the Gators (14-7) with 14 and 10 points, respectively.
Monson (12-9) produced four double-digit points-getters in Brendon Lloyd (13 points), Moody Bey (12), Brien Couture (12) and Steve O’Shea (10).
The Mustangs opened the game with a 10-0 run. John Haskell erased Gateway’s goose egg with a bucket with about two minutes remaining in the first quarter.
Monson nearly matched its opening run, scoring the first nine points of the second half. Gateway responded.
Trailing 42-20, Gateway reeled off a 9-0 run of its own. Calvin Dowers knocked down a pair of free throws and converted a transition hoop with an acrobatic lay-up, and brother, Curtis, drained a 2- and 3-pointer to pull the Gators within 42-29 with 1:17 left in the third quarter.
It was as close as Gateway would get.
