2002 - 2003 Gladiator Season

Game Summaries
Gladiators 13 - 15U
YMCA Jr. Knicks Tournament

The Gladiators (15A) Squad consisted of Tysean Afflick, Eric Govantes, Curtis Bunn, Martin Nicholas, Joseph Scott, Steffon Colon, Robert Paulin and Eric Motley.

February 28, 2003
Blue Team - 40 Gladiators - 33
Gladiators Record: 0-1

This team has worked very hard and was anxious to get the season started. Unfortunately, they started on a bad note losing to Tthe Blue Team, 40 - 33. YMCA-Blue was smaller but hungrier. They were able to expose the Gladiators zone defense as they hit several three point bombs. This forced the Gladiators into man to man defense which the Blue Team was able to exploit even more. Good games were posted by starters Curtis Bunn and Tysean Afflick. It was the bench play of Robert Paulin and Thomas Cooksey that actually got the Gladiators back into the game. Both provided much needed energy off the bench. Although the Gladiators had a slight height advantage, they were outrebounded by the smaller YMCA Blue squad. Coach Tony Afflick has never used officiating as an excuse, but there seem to be a certain degree of favorable calls going YMCA Blue's way. So much so, that Coach Afflick was call for a very questionable technical foul for the first time in his 8 year coaching career at the YMCA Jr. Knicks Tournament. That aside, the Gladiators were playing catch for most of the game. They traded baskets with YMCA Blue which did not help. May 16, 2003 is the last regular season game and it is also against this team. That day is circled on the calendar as "Pay back Day"....

March 7, 2003
Gladiators - 50 Yellow Team - 33
Gladiators Record: 1-1

The Gladiators were back to their winning ways as they posted a 50 - 33 victory over the Yellow Team. Steffon Colon, Eric Govantes and Thomas Cooksey all posted good games and took up the scoring slack as Tysean Afflick and Curtis Bunn had subpar games. The Gladiators seemed to be a lot more comfortable in this game as they took care of their business and improved to 1 - 1 at the YMCA.

March 14, 2003
Gladiatros - 34 Team Gray - 20
Gladiators Record: 2-1

Defense was the theme as the Gladiators cruised to a 34 - 20 victory over the Grey Team. Robert Paulin is forcing the Gladiator coaching staff to play him more minutes. He started for the second straight game. He, along with with Eric Govantes, are providing swarming defense that is causing numerous turnovers. This kind of basketball makes the game so much easier for the rest of the team. The Gladiators welcomed back Jamie White who played well. Coach Jude Baptiste got on center Martin Nicholas for his lack of aggressiveness and energy. Nicholas, who was playing extended minutes due to the absence of Curtis Bunn and an under the weather Tysean Afflick, responded turning up his defensive intensity. The Gladiators now have a record of 2 - 1 at the YMCA.

March 28, 2003
Gladiators - 33 Team Sky Blue - 30
Gladiators Record: 3-1

Curtis Bunn and Eric Govantes lead the Gladiators to a 33 - 30 victory over the Sky Blue team. This was a game in which the Gladiators blew a 14 point 1st half lead. Sky Blue's inability to convert free throws allowed the Gladiators to escape with the victory. The Gladiators had several chances to open up this game, but were unable to capitalize on numerous open shots. Although the Gladiator starting unit was able to establish the tempo they wanted, the 2nd unit was unable to sustain their intensity. A questionable technical foul was called on the Gladiators that allowed Sky Blue to climb back into the game. The game went back and forth until Tysean Afflick was able to ice the game with a game ending jumper. The Gladiators improved to 3 - 1 at the YMCA.

April 4, 2003
Gladiators - 34 Bulldawgz - 33
Gladiators Record: 4-1

Tysean Afflick and Eric Govantes were able to hold off the BullDawgs 34 - 33. The Bulldawgs, lead by Gladiator-killer Josh Watkins, fought until the final buzzer. This was a typical game involving Josh Watkins, as he seems to save his best games for the Gladiators. Tysean Afflick finally showed up as he had an excellent game at both end of the court. Steffon Colon, who was a game time coach's decision to play, showed surprising poise and defense. The story of this game though was the ongoing rivalry between Eric Govantes and Josh Watkins. For more than 3 years, these 2 point guards have been battling one another at the YMCA. Each game has been a classic. This game was no exception. Back and forth they went at each other. The Gladiators were unable to pull away from the Bulldawgs as the Bulldawgs were able control the offensive glass. With 20 seconds to go, Eric Govantes was able to drive the length of the court for the go ahead layup. The Bulldawgs had one last chance to win the game but the Gladiators were able to force a turnover and run out the clock. With this win, the Gladiators were able to improve to 4 - 1 at the YMCA.

April 11, 2003
Gladiators - 33 Positive Steps - 29
Gladiators Record: 5-1

Tysean Afflick and Curtis Bunn lead the Gladiators to their 5th straight victory, a 33 - 29 win over Positive Steps. Curtis Bunn posted yet another double - double. He along with Tysean Afflick provided the scoring as well as controlled the glass. The Gladiators almost gave this game away, as they had entirely too many turnovers. Robert Paulin and Steffon Colon also played good games despite the poor officiating. Both teams complained about the officiating of the referees. Luckily, the Gladiators were able to come away with the win. After starting the season 0 - 1, the Gladiators have won 5 games in a row to improve to 5 - 1 at the YMCA.

April 25, 2003
Gladiators forfeit win
Gladiators Record: 6-1

May 2, 2003
Gladiators forfeit win
Gladiators Record: 7-1

May 9, 2003
Gladiators - 58 Yellow Team - 37
Gladiators Record: 8-1

In a team effort, the Gladiators were able to run through YMCA Yellow by the score of 58 - 37. The Gladiators only dressed 5 players: Eric Govantes, Tysean Afflick, Martin Nicholas, Robert Paulin and Curtis Bunn. That was more than enough as the Gladiators finally got to play after two straight forfeits. Everyone made a huge play in this victory as the Gladiators improved to 8 - 1 at the YMCA. This is a passionate group that relies heavily on emotion to fuel their performance. Unfortunately, the Gladiators let their emotions get the best of them at times. This team has been very lucky that no team in this tournament has forced them to play basic half court basketball.

May 16, 2003
Blue Team - 64 Gladiators - 54
Gladiators Record: 8-2

This was the game that the Gladiators have been waiting for as the Blue Team is the only loss on the Gladiator record this season. The Gladiators will have to wait again as they were defeated 64 - 53. The Blue Team added some size since their last encounter. Steffon Colon posted a good game in a loss. The Gladiators were unable to break the full court press. They also were unable to work the ball to the inside and this lead to this loss in the last regular season game. The Gladiators finished with a record of 8 - 2 which was good for 3rd seed in the playoffs.

May 24, 2003
Positive Steps - 53 Gladiators - 33
PLAYOFFS - FIRST ROUND

The Gladiators season at the YMCA came to abrupt end as Positive Steps stopped the Gladiators by the score of 53 - 33. Internal issues as well as selfish play caused the Gladiators downfall. The Gladiators had an early 7 point halftime lead on Positive Steps. In the second half it all fell apart as the Gladiators abandoned the basic basketball strategy they used to establish their halftime lead. One on one basketball, not taking the ball to the hole, missed free throws and turnovers all contributed to this loss. Former Gladiator, Paul Scotland, was a one man wrecking crew as he destroyed the Gladiators from 3 point range. This game ended on a sour note as the Gladiators let their internal issues spill onto the court. This will have to be addressed in the off season.

Shout out to all the players: