By Rick Pedone
Sports Editor

Gateway showed little sign of a team that struggled through a wave illnesses through the first two months of the basketball season when it demolished Port St. Lucie Centennial, 72-33, Friday at the Panthers gym.

Gateway, behind post men Erick Marino (18 points) and David Jerome (16) bolted to a 22-9 lead in the first quarter as the big men combined for 16 points. Centennial, 3-10, never challenged and the game ended with a running clock in the fourth quarter.

“It’s probably the best game we’ve played all year,” Gateway Coach Bob Baker said.

The win lifted the Panthers to 9-9 and 1-1 in 6A District 6. Gateway has two more district games remaining, Friday at St. Lucie Treasure Coast and Jan. 28 at the Gateway gym against district favorite Vero Beach.

Baker said the Panthers played through November and December without several players who came down with a variety of illnesses, from strep throat to the flu to MRSA.

“Not to make excuses, but it’s just been difficult to get everyone together,” Baker said. “We feel now that, finally, maybe we’ll have everyone healthy and we can start playing the way we are capable. I don’t think our record indicates the ability we have.”

Jordan Edmunds and Felix Gonzalez each scored 9 points for Gateway and Matt Ortiz added 8.

Gateway will host Colonial Wednesday at 7:30 p.m.

Osceola edged Haines City, 62-61, at the Kowboys gym Friday for its eighth win in a row. Osceola, 14-4, improved to 7-1 in 5A District 5 and visits district leader Lake Wales Monday.

Antonio Benitez scored 24 for the Kowboys and Jedarian Jackson, playing one day after a close relative passed away, scored 13. Dominque Williams led the Hornets with 18.

Also in district 5A-5, Ridge Community stopped Liberty, 66-51.