Pleasant Hill, Sports Zone

Gavin helps lift Billies past Oakers

PLEASANT HILL – An electrified gym on Friday night – featuring many in the Pleasant Hill community wearing white T-shirts emblazoned with “Easton Bounds” and a “No. 11” on the back – watched a growing Billies boys team end a successful preseason against visiting Class 2A powerhouse Oakland, struggling in the first half before rallying for a 61-59 victory.

Pleasant Hill coach Luke Jackson complimented the Oakers’ effort. He also noted the importance of winning the game, despite the Billies’ need for improvement in some areas.

“We still have a long way to go,” Jackson said hoarsely on Friday after losing his voice amidst the sounds in the gym. “To be able to win, sometimes you gotta win ugly. I don’t think we’ve peaked or anything, but I’m proud that we found a way to win tonight because that’s a really good team. That’s a top 10 team in 3A too, in my opinion. I know they’re 2A, but that’s a state championship-caliber team right there. Jeff Clark has been coaching for a long time. He’s won a bunch of state titles. No.34 over there is an All-State Player too, so I’m just proud. I’m proud of the kids for fighting. Gavin played great tonight and Landen came up big with some big plays.”

Landen Melvin challenging Oaker #34 Joseph Fusco — a formidable Second Team All-State Player.
CRAIG STROBECK / THE CHRONICLE PHOTO

Landen Melvin, with 25 points, and Gavin Inglish, with 26, were the top scorers in Friday’s game. Inglish in particular was a dominating force against the Oakers and led the Billies’ second-half rally. Though the Billies controlled the first quarter, they lost that lead in the second.

“We’ve got to execute better,” Jackson said. “We did not play great defense tonight, and we’re gonna have to play better defense and help on rotations and be better on-ball.”

 Inglish, though, refused to pump the brakes and in the last five minutes alone in the second quarter, scored two dunks, two layups, and a 3-pointer. He scored the entirety of the Billies’ 11 points before halftime.

Gavin Inglish rallying before halftime on Friday while surrounded by Oakers. Inglish led the Billies in scoring with 26 points.
CRAIG STROBECK / THE CHRONICLE PHOTO

Jackson attributed the second-half rally to a “champion” mindset within his players and the value of overcoming challenges. As he put it, “taking your hat off to a good team and making the right plays down to the wire … and fast.”

This lesson also relates to Jackson’s current focus on valuing the “bigger picture” goals of the team – regardless of records or scores: youth, teamwork, playing time, and experience. 

“It’s how you finish, grow, and learn how to play together,” he said. “We’ve got a lot of younger guys on the team, some guys that didn’t play last year. Do you want to win every game? Yeah. But it’s hard to play at a high level. You just hope that you don’t have a loss to learn –  you’ve got to learn from your wins too.”

Easton Bounds

This hard-earned win for the Billies was particularly special after a community rally for the Bounds family. 

On Dec. 7, junior quarterback Steven Bounds, along with five others, suffered a two-car collision at the intersection of River Road and Beacon Drive that claimed the life of his 13-year-old brother, Easton Bounds. Easton played as a defensive end and fullback on the Pleasant Hill Middle School football team. Steven suffered major injuries. 

“That’s the good thing about this community – we have a lot of people that support each other,” athletic director Kyle McClain said. “The shirts were 100% community-driven, and so the school is not going to get in the way of that. And I think it’s a testament to the support of our community, especially when we face tragedy, we lift each other up and we’re there for each other. That’s the one thing I love about Pleasant Hill.” 

Pleasant Hill cheerleaders lit up the gym on Friday with their honorary white “Easton Bounds” T-shirts.
CRAIG STROBECK / THE CHRONICLE PHOTO

The team T-shirts were given out for free. Both the girls and boys teams on Friday were seen warming up and practicing with their shirts. The cheerleaders also brightened the gym with their shirts for both games.

“Though it’s been really hard going through grief and trauma, it’s been really special at the same time,” McClain said. “We’ve kind of rallied around each other.”

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