by Ryan Mosher
The Berlin boys basketball team had opened their season with a 92-43 drubbing at the hands of the Germantown Clippers, but now the Mountaineers’ season has shown signs of improvement. That continued Wednesday night when they hosted the Clippers once again. After averaging just 30 points per game in the first six games of the season, the Mountaineers have scored 42 points in three of their last four games.
While many may have expected the game to be similar to the first match-up, the Mountaineers had other plans. Berlin matched Germantown’s first two baskets and each added a free throw to have a 5-5 tie in the first few minutes. With 5:00 remaining in the first, Drew Webster grabbed a long rebound for Berlin and put it in for their first lead at 7-5. Less than two minutes later Webster knocked down a three-pointer, giving Berlin a 10-5 lead. Being the tough team they are, the Clippers fought back and took a 13-12 lead after one quarter.
The game was at its best in the second quarter when the teams battled back and forth. Berlin was led by sophomore Seth Hawk, whose three-point shooting in the second quarter kept the Mountaineers in the game. After nailing one already, Hawk hit another with 2:55 left in the half to bring Berlin within one point at 21-20. After two Clipper baskets, he drilled another one with 2:01 remaining, cutting the lead to 25-23. Less than a minute later Webster made a layup to tie the game at 25-25. At halftime the score was Germantown 30, Berlin 27.
The third quarter was Berlin’s weak spot. The Mountaineers let Germantown run the court and were outscored 19-11 in the quarter. Germantown led 49-38 heading into the final eight minutes. In those final eight minutes, the Clippers continued to beat Berlin in transition, scoring basket after basket. Berlin scored 19 points in the final quarter, but that was not enough as Germantown won the game 71-57.
The 57 points was Berlin’s highest output of the year and was the first time the Mountaineers had three players in double digits. Seth Hawk scored his career high 12 points on four three-pointers. Shawn Willis added 13 points, and the high scorer for the game was Drew Webster with 16 points. Berlin knocked down 10 three-pointers in the game, bringing the teams season total to 46. That ranks them third in the CHVL behind Heatly (63) and New Lebanon (48). The Mountaineers next travel to Loudonville Christian on Friday to take on the Eagles.