Broomall, PA – February 2013
They came from the northeast and left with two hard-earned victories. The boys’ teams of Annunciation (Elkins Park) and Evangelismos (Bustleton) both walked away with wins this past weekend at St. Luke Greek Orthodox Church, in back-to-back GOYA basketball matchups full of grit, hustle, and clutch performances.
Game 1: Annunciation 48, St. George (Media) 42
St. George opened strong, jumping out to an 8–0 lead despite missing starter Panos Skoutelas. AJ Avazioglou stepped up in his place, sinking back-to-back three-pointers to energize the home crowd.
But Annunciation—playing with no bench for the first three periods—slowly found their rhythm. Their speed, determination, and relentless drives to the basket helped them close the gap and eventually take the lead.
Late in the third quarter, St. George ramped up the pressure with a full-court press, clawing back to within one point. But when the fouls started coming in the final minutes, Annunciation didn’t flinch. They hit 7 of 8 free throws in the last two and a half minutes to seal the win.
Final Score: Annunciation 48, St. George 42
Game 2: Evangelismos 56, St. Luke 53
The second game featured a fast-paced showdown between Evangelismos and host team St. Luke. The first half was a seesaw battle, with both teams trading leads. St. Luke stayed in it thanks to sharp shooting from Greg Vlassopoulos and aggressive drives by Christopher Palmieri.
But Evangelismos dominated the boards throughout the game and used their speed to exploit every transition opportunity. In the final minutes, St. Luke mounted a comeback, hitting a late three-pointer to close the gap to just one possession. Despite the pressure, Evangelismos held on.
Final Score: Evangelismos 56, St. Luke 53
Stay tuned to Cosmos Philly for more GOYA basketball coverage, player interviews, and upcoming playoff previews.