by Ryan Mosher
While the Berlin boys basketball team has struggled to put together any success this season, their rival New Lebanon Tigers have seemed to finally find their way in the Central Hudson Valley League. With just three games remaining, the Tigers were tied for the top spot entering Monday night’s game with Berlin. As always with these two teams, standings were meaningless as the long time rivals began to do battle.
After the first two minutes, the score was tied 4-4. Berlin senior Shawn Willis broke the tie when he took a pass from Seth Hawk and knocked down a three-pointer to give Berlin a 7-4 lead. After a free throw, it was Hawk’s turn, and he buried a three-pointer to give Berlin a 10-5 lead. Berlin stretched the lead to 12-5, but a 5-0 run by the Tigers brought the score back to 12-10 after one quarter.
Just over a minute into the second quarter Hawk buried another three-pointer to give Berlin a 15-10 lead. Two minutes later, after a basket, Mike Gavrity hit one of two free throws to bring the Tigers back within two points at 15-13. Willis would step up for the Mountaineers at the four minute mark with another big three-pointer,
making the score 18-13. New Lebanon didn’t back down as Chris Evans was fouled on the next Tiger possession and buried both free throws. Gavrity came through again for the Tigers as he scored twice in a thirty second span to give New Lebanon their first lead since early in the game. The score would remain the same for almost two minutes until Willis hit a baseline jumper for the Mountaineers, to put them ahead 20-19. Kyle McHugh responded by drawing a foul and connecting on both free throw attempts, putting New Lebanon back in the lead 21-20. In the final possession of the half, Berlin’s Cody Blain was fouled and connected on one free throw to tie the game at 21-21 at halftime.
After the intermission the Tigers came out on fire. Bryan Potter nailed a three-pointer one minute into the half to give the Tigers a three point lead, and then McHugh scored to build the lead to five points. The Mountaineers fought back with a free throw from Cole Riddering and another three-pointer from Willis to bring them back within a point at 26-25. A basket by CJ Tromley made the score 28-25, and then Potter hit a free throw to complete a three-point play, giving the Tigers a 31-25 lead. Riddering then scored for Berlin before Potter knocked down another three-pointer to stretch their lead to 34-27. Hawk hit a free throw for Berlin with a minute left in the quarter, and then stole the ball and scored on a layup to bring the score to 34-30 after three quarters.
Everything that mattered in the final quarter happened in the first minute. New Lebanon scored two free throws in their first possession, making it 36-30. Willis scored for Berlin just seconds later to make it 36-32. After that, it was all Tigers. New Lebanon’s tough defense and tough play led them on a 10-0 run to end the game, giving them the 46-32 victory.
Bryan Potter continued his excellent season with a game high 18 points for the Tigers. Kyle McHugh also scored in double digits for New Lebanon with 10 points. Shawn Willis led Berlin with 15 points.