Andrew’s James Gallagher has been playing competitive basketball since he was a fourth grader in Clarksville, Tennessee.
He kept going in the sport as sixth grader when he moved to Tinley Park. But time is running out as the senior forward doesn’t plan on playing in college.
His goals for his final season are simple.
“I just want to do my part and get wins,” Gallagher said.
And what is his part?
“Getting rebounds and playing defense,” he said.
Fair enough. But he’s throwing a little offensive prowess into the mix.
The 6-foot-1 Gallagher scored 16 points Wednesday night in leading the Thunderbolts to a 64-46 victory over host Tinley Park in a nonconference matchup between crosstown rivals.
Oh, and he did his other stuff too.
Gallagher added seven rebounds and three steals for Andrew (9-1). Grantas Sakenis, a 6-10 center, had 15 points and 13 rebounds. Kaleb Simms chipped in with 14 points, including 10 in the third quarter.
Indion Aurel came off the bench to pace Tinley Park (1-6) with 13 points.
Gallagher scored three points and hauled down seven rebounds Tuesday night in a wild 65-63 win over district rival Stagg. He hit a huge go-ahead basket late in the fourth quarter.
First-year Andrew coach Justin Stirn, who coached Gallagher two years ago on the sophomore team, knew he had a Dennis Rodman-like rebounder in Gallagher.
“Some people think he’s a role player, but he’s an important part of this team,” Stirn said of Gallagher. “He was a kid who always prided himself on his rebounding and defense.
“There was a game his sophomore year when he had 23 rebounds. It’s kind of his responsibility each night to pinpoint who the best offensive rebounder is and limit that.”
But Stirn has also enjoyed watching Gallagher’s shot fall.
“He does a lot of the dirty work that goes unnoticed,” Stirn said. “But percentage-wise, he’s shooting the ball phenomenally well this season.
“He’s shooting with confidence, and confidence does that.”
His teammates are noticing.
“He’s one of the leaders on the team in rebounds, and now he’s doing great shooting the ball,” Simms said. “We can’t win without him. And that goes for everyone on the team.”
The Thunderbolts have played with confidence this week, surviving a 41-20 deficit with two minutes left in the second quarter to Stagg.
“Stagg came out with a great shooting day,” Simms said. “There really wasn’t that much talking at halftime. We just knew that we had to come out and play well in the third quarter.
“We knew what we had to do and played great defense and hustled. James put in a big three and we rolled from there.”
With an early schedule that featured Marist, Naperville North, Stagg and Bradley, it was hard to envision Andrew winning nine of 10 games to start the season.
But that’s where the Thunderbolts are at.
“We’re in a nice stretch right now,” Stirn said. “We’ve beaten some good teams and battled through some adversity in those games.
“Even when things seem down, they are doing a good job of keeping their chins up.”
Since the 21-point deficit to Stagg, Andrew built a 99-50 advantage the rest of the way against the Chargers and in the first three quarters against Tinley Park before Stirn subbed freely.
“I don’t see us slowing down anytime soon, Gallagher said.
Gallagher, meanwhile, is looking to continue his academics at Mississippi or Iowa.
“I would love to be a construction manager,” he said about his future. “I have a cousin who does it, and he likes it. There’s good money in it.”
Jeff Vorva is a freelance reporter for the Daily Southtown.