Gilmore Academy pulls away after second-quarter swing, beats Homestead Falls 64-55 in Christmas Classic opener

Gilmore Academy turned the game with a dominant second quarter and held off Homestead Falls late for a 64-55 win Friday at Garfield Heights High School in the opening game of the 2025 NEO Youth Elite Christmas Classic. Homestead Falls controlled the first quarter and led 18-12 after one, but Gilmore answered with a 24-point second period, took a 36-29 halftime lead, and carried that surge through the third quarter to build enough cushion to finish it out.

The early flow belonged to Homestead Falls. Cole Odin helped set that tone, including an and-one at the end of the first quarter, as the Bulldogs played from in front and forced Gilmore to chase the game. That changed in the second, when Gilmore found its balance on the offensive end. Caleb Henderson banked in a finish and completed a three-point play during the run, and Mikey Holt followed with a deep 3-pointer and an and-one at the 4:20 mark of the quarter as Gilmore pushed ahead. Even after Odin beat the halftime horn with a 3-pointer to trim the margin, Gilmore still went to the break up seven.

That second-quarter stretch proved to be the truest turning point. Gilmore carried the momentum into the third and extended the lead to 54-41 by the end of the period. Holt hit multiple long 3-pointers in the quarter, while Brody Durham continued to steady the offense and finished with a game-high 19 points and three assists. Durham was later recognized as the game MVP. Gilmore also got double-figure scoring from Holt with 16, Henderson with 12 and Braden Titus with 10, a reflection of the balanced scoring that shaped the middle two quarters.

Homestead Falls did not let the game get away quietly. Chris Ten scored 12 points and provided one of the top defensive plays of the fourth quarter when he blocked a Gilmore attempt at the rim by Henderson. Odin added 11 points, and the Bulldogs won the fourth quarter 14-10 as they tried to chip into the deficit. Keegan Smith knocked down a 3-pointer with 2.9 seconds left during that late push, part of an effort that showed the Bulldogs' resilience even after trailing by 13 entering the final quarter.

Gilmore's ability to answer runs was the difference. After falling behind early, the Lancers outscored Homestead Falls 24-11 in the second quarter and 18-12 in the third, flipping a six-point first-quarter deficit into a 13-point edge after three. The game summary from the event reflected that same pattern: Homestead Falls started strong, Gilmore rallied before halftime, then built separation with shooting and depth before closing it out. Henderson and Titus added key support around Durham and Holt, while Caprosi also contributed as Gilmore moved to 5-0.

For Homestead Falls, the loss dropped the Bulldogs to 4-3, but the closing stretch offered something to build on after Christmas break. For Gilmore, the opener showed the value of its depth and shot-making in a tournament setting. Once the Lancers flipped the game in the second quarter, they had enough answers to carry the rest of the afternoon and leave Garfield Heights with a 64-55 win.