LAKE BUENA VISTA, FLORIDA -- Despite falling sharply behind in the first eight minutes of play, the New York City Gauchos rallied for a big victory, 68-60, over the Tallahassee Wildcats Blue team at the Showcase.
The Gauchos team arrived with about 1;30 left on the pregame clock. So with no time to warm up, the Gauchos looked sluggish. The Wildcats jumped out to a 24-10 lead after the first quarter. The Gauchos cut the lead to 32-28 at the half.
"It was a struggle," said head coach Keith Smith. "But we got it going with our defense."
True. The Gauchos defense picked up the intensity in the second quarter and didn't allow many easy baskets. Kashif Pratt helped the Gauchos offense by scoring 12 first-half points.
Saiquon Stone took a few charges in the third quarter to ignite the Gauchos to a lead in the third quarter 47-45. Thomas Manzano's three-point launch at the end of the quarter gave the Gauchos' the lead.
In the fourth quarter, the pace of the Gauchos' defense worn down the Wildcats. Efforts by Terrell McKenzie and Darryl Crawford were also important in the Gauchos first-round victory here in Mickey Mouse Land.