by Ryan Mosher
In the middle game of a three game barrage for the Berlin boys basketball team, the Mountaineers traveled to Hudson on Monday, February 2, to take on Hawthorne Valley. Berlin took an early lead, but the Wildcats would not step back, nipping at the Mountaineers’ heels all the way. The Mountaineers led just 21-17 after the first quarter, leaving Hawthorne confident in their game thus far. In the second quarter, Berlin could not pull away. While Berlin tried desperately to increase that lead, the Wildcats matched them basket for basket during the quarter. At halftime Berlin led 36-31.
The third quarter was not a good one for the Mountaineers as Hawthorne spent the first several minutes cutting the deficit between the teams. Finally with 4:39 remaining, the Wildcats caught Berlin and took the lead 40-38. Another layup stretched the lead out to 42-38, but that was where Berlin put an end to it. The Mountaineers scored nine unanswered points during a 11-2 run that gave them the lead back at 49-44 to end the third quarter.
In the fourth quarter the Mountaineers had to deal with the Wildcats top scorer, Julian Muller, going on a hot streak. Muller knocked down three three-pointers and went 5-5 from the free throw line in the quarter to keep Hawthorne in the game. Fortunately for the Mountaineers, their top three scorers all turned it on in the fourth quarter. Brent Demick scored 10 points in the quarter, and Chris Zema and Casey Gilbert each added 7. The Mountaineers outscored the Wildcats 26-20 in the final eight minutes, taking the 75-64 victory.
Brent Demick led the way for Berlin with a double-double, 22 points and 16 rebounds. Zema scored 24 points and grabbed 5 rebounds. Gilbert finished the night with 17 points and 6 rebounds.