Gage delivers in the clutch to send Condors to PHT final

    Devin Gage became a redeemer and savior for Chicago Curie with one hard stop-and-pop shot as time ran out of the first semifinal game at the 85th Pontiac Holiday Tournament.

    Gage buried a 3-pointer as time expired to lift the Condors to an 80-78 victory over cross-town rival Simeon Thursday.

    “This is what Pontiac is all about,” Curie head coach Michael Oliver said. “We expect this in a semifinal game.”

    Simeon took a 78-77 lead with 32 seconds left in regulation after Evan Gilyard drove the lane. The Condors came right back with Gage driving the left side of the lane. His shot caromed off the rim and the Wolverines got the rebound.

    The problem for Simeon in trying to get to the line, something that was done a combined 15 times to that points in the fourth quarter alone, was turning the ball over because of Curie’s pressure.

    Gage was fouled with 7.1 seconds with a chance to put the Condors on top but he missed both tosses.

    Talen Horton-Tucker got the rebound for Simeon and was fouled. He, too, missed his throws and Curie’s Michael Johnson came away with the rebound. The Condors got a timeout with three seconds showing on the clock.

    Timeout Curie.

    The ball was thrown in under pressure to Gage, who had cut into the front court. He pushed to near the top of the key and launched the game-winner as time expired.

    Jubilation!

    A no-doubter for Gage as his ball tickled nylon for the win that sent the Condors into the championship game.

    “The final play broke down so I had to get the ball,” Gage said. “I had three seconds, plenty of time to get a shot off.

    “I had to come through for my team; they needed me. I thought I had failed them missing that layup and those two free throws. I guess that made up for them.”

    “That’s why he’s our leader,” Oliver said. “We knew we had to go back to him. He’s been here four years so we knew win or lose we had to go to him.”

    Curie had gotten out to an 8-0 lead early but everyone in the place knew this was going to be a battle.

    Simeon rallied and built a 19-12 advantage midway through the second quarter only to see the Condors swoop back to hold a 35-30 edge at the break. It was a 54-52 Curie lead after three periods.

    Gage and Elijah Joiner each finished with 23 points for Curie (9-1). Terry Smith Jr. added 11 points.

    Zach Norvell had 24 points before fouling out late. Gilyard had 22 points and Madison Lowery contributed 18 points and 7 rebounds.