by Ryan Mosher
Coming off a tough loss against rival New Lebanon last week, the Berlin boys basketball team kicked off a busy week with a trip to the extra small gym at Doane Stuart on Friday, January 30. While the Thunder Chickens may dwell at the bottom of the Central Hudson Valley League standings, they put up a big fight the first time the Mountaineers played them. Doane Stuart took an early lead in this game until the Mountaineers finally caught up half way through the quarter and re-took the lead. Berlin could only stretch the lead out as far as six points in the first quarter and took a 15-10 lead into the second quarter.
In the second, the Mountaineers still could not shake the Thunder Chickens, even with the help of a 7-0 spurt midway through the quarter. At halftime the lead had been stretched out to seven points at 32-25.
The third quarter would be Doane Stuart’s undoing as the Mountaineers outscored them 24-12, taking a 56-37 lead. Chris Zema scored 14 points in the quarter, including 6 points in the final :50. In the final quarter, Berlin continued to stretch its lead throughout the quarter. The final score was Berlin 74, Doane Stuart 51.
Zema scored a career high 36 points, including going 10-10 on his free throws. Zema also grabbed six rebounds and dished five assists. Brent Demick had seven rebounds and 13 points for Berlin.