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(ALEX HAVARDANSKY | THE GRAHAM LEADER) Nick Wankowcz looks for an open man in the paint Tuesday, June 17, against the Cisco Loboes. Wankowicz has been a vital member of the Steers at center catching rebounds and using his frame. -
(ALEX HAVARDANSKY | THE GRAHAM LEADER) Brodie Martin takes the ball up the floor Tuesday, June 17, against the Albany Lions. Martin was a consistent scorer in both games. -
(ALEX HAVARDANSKY | THE GRAHAM LEADER) Bryce Martin stands in the corner looking to pass Tuesday, June 17 against the Cisco Loboes. The Martin brothers have provided a steady stream of offense all summer.
The Graham Steers varsity team showed out in a big way for week three of summer league basketball, sweeping both games they played in dramatic fashion for their most complete week.
The night opened up with a fresh slate of games Tuesday, June 17 at the Breckenridge ISD Athletic Center.
The Newcastle Bobcats were unable to be in attendance tonight but they will pick up their schedule next week for the final roundup of summer league games.
That meant it would all come down to how Graham performed on the night. This week, the Steers kicked off their schedule against the Cisco Loboes and rounded things out against the Albany Lions.
Over the past several weeks, players on the Steers have been consistently talked about like the Martin brothers, Jagger Nees, Nick Wankowicz and more. For Cooper Corley though, his game against the Loboes was truly a coming out party.
Corley filled up that stat sheet as the games leading scorer and capped it off with the contest’s signature moment.
After forcing overtime it looked like Graham had the game won. They led 34-32 with 20 seconds left and an offensive foul on Cisco gave possession back to Graham.
However, the Steers had a brief moment of disaster when they turned the ball over inside ten seconds left.
Cisco went on to tie the game at 34 all with a put back bucket, but that’s when Corley met the moment.
He took an inbounds pass inside the paint, put a shot up, and laid it in for the game winner with Graham pulling it out 36-34.
“He’s always there in every game. When it comes down to it he’s one of those guys you want,” Coach Chris Corley said. “It’s cool to watch.”
Game two was a much more complete and dominating win for the Steers. Corley picked things up right where he left off with a steal and a layup to start the scoring for Graham.
His teammates complimented him throughout the contest through scoring highlights of their own.
Brodie and Bryce Martin continued to do damage, and players like Obed Trejo and Jagger Nees really started to find their stroke behind the arc knocking down key threes.
Coach Corley also said that Thomason Burkett had an all around great night on defense. Corley even went as far to give him the nickname “Mr. Defense.”
Wankowicz did the cleanup work on the glass and finished things with multiple layups and a putback shot to cap off a 52-34 blowout over the Albany Lions.
“They’re in shape, they’re ready to go, they’re hungry,” Coach Corley said. “We’ve got a bullseye on the back of a Graham jersey. It’s pushing our guys harder and faster.”
Like the Bobcats, the Steers will wrap up their summer leagues games next Tuesday, June 17, starting at 5 p.m. one last time at the Breckenridge ISD Athletic Center.
