by Ryan Mosher
In the first game between the Waterford and Berlin boys basketball teams, the Mountaineers knocked off the Fordians by 15 points, 55-40, behind a dominating performance by Brent Demick in which he scored 13 points and grabbed 16 rebounds. In that game Berlin grabbed 44 rebounds despite being the smaller team. On Thursday the teams played again, on Berlin’s senior night, and both knew that whichever team won would probably get the higher seed in the upcoming sectional tournament.
Before the game the Mountaineers honored their ten seniors – Casey Gilbert, Eric Remington, Brent Demick, Chris Zema, Brad Deyo, Fred Morine, Jake Staples, Matt Tanner, Phil Gilbert and John Zwack. Deyo was given the start along with the other four regular starters and took advantage of the situation, scoring 6 of Berlin’s first 8 points. The first quarter saw a lot of fouls between the two teams, nine personal fouls and a technical on the Waterford coach. With his team up 12-10 and just :12 left in the quarter, the coach got into a heated argument with the official before being given the technical. Chris Zema stepped to the line and hit one of the two free throws, pulling Berlin within one at 11-12.
The second quarter saw the Fordians stretch the lead out to nine points before the Mountaineers reeled off a 14-5 run to tie the game at 25-25 with one minute remaining. Waterford scored twice more in the next thirty seconds before Casey Gilbert brought the Mountaineers to within two at 29-27 with fifteen seconds left. With :07 left, the referees whistled Zema for a foul, allowing the Waterford player to hit both free throws and grab a 31-27 lead. The Mountaineers would not let the Fordians go into the locker room feeling comfortable though as they moved the ball up the court, and Zema buried a three-pointer with three seconds left on the clock to send the teams into the break with Waterford holding onto a slim 31-30 lead.
The third quarter belonged to Casey Gilbert. Gilbert scored 13 of the Mountaineers’ 21 points in the quarter helping Berlin take a 51-48 lead. Foul trouble continued to plague the Mountaineers as both Gilbert (3 fouls) and Zema (4 fouls) found themselves on the bench in trouble.
The fouling continued into the fourth quarter, slowing the game to almost
a standstill at times. With 4:01 to play, Waterford tied the game at 55-55, and the final drive for the victory began. The Fordians hit a three-pointer a minute later, taking a 58-55 lead. Berlin responded with baskets by Zema and Gilbert to retake the lead 59-58 with 1:56 left. Waterford responded again with another basket at 1:42, giving them the 60-59 lead. Brent Demick came right back and scored to take the lead, but it was brief as Waterford scored again just seconds later, taking a 62-61 lead. With time winding down, Zema drove towards the hoop, pulled up just inside the foul line and sank a jumper, giving Berlin the 63-62 lead. Off a missed Waterford shot, the Mountaineers maintained control of the ball until Casey Gilbert was fouled with :11 remaining. Going to the line for one and one, Gilbert missed the first shot. The Fordians grabbed the rebound and called time-out, setting them up for one shot with five seconds remaining. After the time-out, Waterford inbounded the ball to their point guard, who could not hold onto it. In a mad scramble for the ball, the Fordians did not even get off a good shot before the buzzer sounded bringing the Mountaineer faithful to their feet in the full gym.
Zema led the way for Berlin with 23 points and 4 assists, followed by Gilbert with a career high 20 points and 6 assists. Brent Demick added 12 points and 6 rebounds.