Peekskill already won the Slam Dunk championship, right? The Red Devils beat Iona Prep in an overtime classic in the semifinals, and tonight’s final against Gorton is a mere formality.

Or is it?

I wouldn’t predict Gorton to beat Peekskill. In fact, if Peekskill won by 25, I wouldn’t be the least bit surprised. But if Gorton somehow found a way to keep this game close — or even win — I wouldn’t be shocked, either.

Here are five reasons why I believe Gorton has a fighting chance tonight against Peekskill:

1. Gorton has nothing to lose. Personally, and I’m probably not alone here, I figured the Wolves would be lucky to go 1-2 this weekend — with 0-3 was a strong possibility. But the Wolves made a statement by beating Long Island Lutheran in the opening round. They then pulled off potentially the program’s biggest win in two decades by beating White Plains at the buzzer yesterday, a game they trailed by 18 points in the third quarter. The pressure is all on Peekskill to finish the job here. Nobody expects Gorton to win, which should help its chances.
2. Fatigue factor. Obviously, coming back from 18 points down against a team like White Plains required a load of energy. But the Red Devils have to be dragging today after their overtime win against Iona Prep late last night. Daquan Brickhouse played every second of that game, and Darien Thomas, Kenny Bradshaw and Ralph Watts all saw 33 minutes or more each. It has to take a toll.
3. Nobody plays harder. The Wolves are a decent team. But they’re allowed to compete with the elite because of how hard they play. Gorton has scratched and clawed every second it has been on the floor in the Slam Dunk, and it’s the single reason why it’s playing for the title. I don’t know what Gorton coach Rob Rizzo has sold these kids on, but he’s gotten them to run through walls for him just eight games into the season.
4. No intimidation. As great a program Peekskill is, the kids at Gorton aren’t concerned. Mount Vernon, New Rochelle and White Plains are annually on the Wolves’ schedule and Peekskill is barely on their radar. If they weren’t intimidated by White Plains and were able to beat them Tigers on the County Center floor, they won’t be intimidated by anyone.
5. Let-down factor. The one problem Peekskill has had this season is that, at times, it plays down to its competition and turns games that should be blowouts into uncomfortable double-digits wins. Well, Gorton has proven this weekend that you have to put it away early or suffer the consequences, coming back from 13 points down against Long Island Lutheran and 18 versus White Plains. Couldn’t you envision Peekskill having a hangover from last night and coming out flat against a hungrier Gorton squad. I could.

My prediction for the game: Peekskill 65, Gorton 52. I don’t expect an effort for Peekskill quite like last night. But I do see the Red Devils getting comfortably ahead and fighting off the feisty Wolves throughout the second half.