SAN ANTONIO — A lot has changed since Nov. 14 when Champion played Southwest Legacy to open the 2025-26 boys basketball season.
The biggest change for Champion since then was that their leading scorer, Gavin Peck, didn’t get to play in their rematch with the Titans last Friday in the second round of the 5A DI playoffs.
Peck sat out with a foot injury on Friday, and Southwest Legacy took advantage of his absence by defeating the Chargers, 40-36.
Friday’s loss stopped Champion’s win streak at 10 and ended their season at 26-10 overall.
Peck posted on social media that it was hard having to sit on the bench and just watch last Friday.
“I battled through a foot injury Tuesday, but it was tough not being cleared (Friday) to play with my brothers,” he posted on X. “Couldn’t be prouder of them and the run we made.”
Champion coach Chris Adamek said it was difficult playing without Peck but added that the rest of the team did what they could.
“We played 34 games a certain way getting ready for the playoffs and then we completely switch gears when Gavin injured his ankle in Round 1,” the coach said. “Guys took on roles that were new to them without complaint. The first half was an adjustment, but the guys really turned it around and had a shot to win it at the end.”
The Chargers had a good start Friday and were up 4-0, but the Titans answered with a 10-0 run and didn’t trail for a long stretch.
Southwest Legacy took a 22-16 lead into halftime and was leading by six points heading into the fourth quarter, but Champion made a push.
Nik Georgelos hit a 3 with 6:40 remaining in the game, their first 3 of the game, and then Georgelos made a pair of free throws, and it was a one-point game at 29-28.
A 5-0 spurt by the Titans pushed their lead back to 34-28 with 3:01 left, but the Chargers had one last run in them. Travis Clark nailed a 3 and was fouled on another 3-point shot and made two free throws to trim the lead back down to one at 34-33 with 1:55 on the clock.
After Southwest Legacy travelled on its next possession, Champion came down the court and set up a shot. Nicholas Plummer sank a 3-pointer with 1:12 remaining, and the Chargers were up 36-34 for their first lead since the first quarter.
Unfortunately for the Chargers, those would be their final points of the season, while the Titans closed out the game by scoring the last 6 points.
A 3-pointer by Isaiah Rivera put the Titans back on top, 37-36. The Chargers misfired on their next two possessions and then had to start fouling to stop the clock. From there, Southwest Legacy made 3 of 4 at the free-throw line to ice it.
Georgelos and Clark finished with 11 points each, Plummer added 10, while Will Kliesing and Ryan Gallardo both scored 2.
It was the final game for seniors Reid Reddy, Nik Georgelos and Jayden Davis.
Adamek said he was proud of his seniors and everybody else on the team for the effort they put into Friday’s game and for the season they had.
“I’m so proud of the guys and their efforts in a tough situation,” he said. “Winning 10 games in a row to get in the mix for a district championship and then winning a playoff game is something I will never forget.”
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