But even some heroics from the slightly built Otago Nuggets guard could not save his team from an 88-80 defeat to the Auckland Pirates at the Edgar Centre on Saturday night.
The wee guy scored a game-high 27 points, grabbed 10 boards, four assists and three steals and threatened to help stage a dramatic comeback with 14 points in the last quarter.
He paid for most of his baskets with fresh bruises but continued to crash the paint with some fearless drives to the hoop.
His speed and courage were rewarded with ample trips to the free-throw line. And once he got there he was clinical, drilling eight of his 10 attempts.
Had it not been for a superb performance from Pirates captain Kevin Smith, O'Gallagher and the 1200-strong crowd might have got the result they wanted in the Nuggets' last home game this season. Smith scored 13 of his 26 points in the last quarter to help hold off the Nuggets.
A flurry of points came in the last 90sec of the game, the Nuggets forced into a series of fouls to try to claw back an eight-point deficit.
The visitors froze, missing too many from the free-throw line and, incredibly, the Nuggets clawed six points back while using up only about 8sec of the remaining time.
With the game in the balance, the visitors regained their composure and the Nuggets rediscovered their will to lose. Sounds harsh but winning is certainly not second nature for the struggling franchise.
The Nuggets have just two games remaining this season and O'Gallagher, who said he would like to return next year, believes the team needs to examine its culture if it is going to be more competitive in the future.
"There is a culture change which has to happen," he said.
"People are too used to losing and instead of pulling through late in the fourth quarter, when the team gets down, there is a sense of here-we-go-again type of thing.
"We are trying to change that, but it is what it is."
The Nuggets broke a 33-game losing streak this season but with two wins from 14 games the franchise has plenty of room for improvement. On paper, most of the other eight teams in the league boast more talent.
For some of the younger players, O'Gallagher believes it is a lack of confidence which holds them back from reaching their potential.
"They are all capable. Tom Rowe played well and shot the ball well tonight and we knew he could do that. That is what we need. It all comes back to confidence."
Rowe scored a season-high 11 points, including two clutch three-pointers. Tall Black Craig Bradshaw had another solid night: 18 points, 10 boards, four assists and two steals.
His battle with former Tall Black Dillon Boucher was a highlight. Points were probably about even, Boucher bagging a double-double with 10 rebounds and 11 points. While Bradshaw and Boucher were busy jostling, American Kevin Mickens was free to quietly score 20 points without too much fuss.
The departure of 2.11m centre Lance Allred last week left the Nuggets with just one import and, to be fair, a big man short of a decent starting five.
THE SCORES
Nuggets v Pirates
• Pirates 88
Kevin Smith 26, Kevin Mickens 20, Everard Bartlett 13
• Nuggets 80
Scott O'Gallagher 27, Craig Bradshaw 18, Tom Rowe 11
• Quarter 18-18, halftime 35-29, third quarter 54-53.
