Gallego Leads Flyers Past St. Dominic’s 68-47

Speedy, skillful and –by comparison – short are words that can describe Chaminade senior John Gallego.

“We look up to him figuratively,” forward Mike Walsh said last Friday night after the Flyers had finished a 68-47 drubbing of St. Dominic’s at the Activities and Athletic Center. “We follow John, we look up to John because we know he’s been here last year. John really leads by example.”

Even though he stands but 5’9” (every other player on the Chaminade roster is over six-foot), Gallego’s talent is found in his knees, able to weave in and out of defenses and staying calm at the line with the game in the balance.

No such heroics were necessary against the Bay Hawks, who seemed happy to help out their opponents with high passes that were swiped out of the air and shots against the rim that bounced into waiting Flyer fingers.

“I’m liking the defense that we’re playing, the 3-2, getting a lot of steals off of it,” said Patrick Farrell, who with Gallego is the other senior on the Chaminade squad. Having two seniors on the team, it’s great to have someone like that. He’s been dishing the ball to everybody and we’re just returning the favor to him.”

In addition to his 8 assists on the night, Gallego had a trio of steals that resulted in break away baskets, two of them coming in the second quarter.

Later in the fourth he continued his display on a feed from guard Liam Murphy, putting a hookshot into the St. Dominic’s basket.

“Some of those were lucky,” Gallego later said, his face barely containing a grin. “Everything’s starting to come together. We’re just having fun out there.”

With the team still on the cusp of the playoffs after having been dealt another loss by Kellenberg (18-2, 10-1) by a score of 46-41 Tuesday, the Flyers will look to Gallego to help get them back to the championship game this year.

“It’s really something special knowing that the guys look up to me and stuff,” he said. “I’m just trying to help them out as much as I can and basically just make it a good environment for everyone.”

With four games left in the regular season, of which two are against conference basement-dweller St. John the Baptist – one of which starts out in West Islaip this afternoon at 3:30 p.m. – wins are at a premium for the Flyers.

“Obviously we’ve had some setbacks earlier in the year but we believe it’s starting to come together now,” Gallego said. “Big thing that we say is ‘we believe,’ so that’s what we do.”