The Berkshire boys basketball team hosted the Wickliffe Blue Devils Jan. 6 in a CVC matchup.
Game photos click here.
The Berkshire boys basketball team hosted the Wickliffe Blue Devils Jan. 6 in a CVC matchup.
The Blue Devils got out to a quick energetic start, taking an early 12-5 first-quarter lead over the Badgers. However, the Badgers fought hard defensively to get back into the game, allowing them to score the last four points of the first quarter.
The remainder of the contest was close, as both teams played with great intensity and effort, leading to multiple lead changes.
Although the Badgers got within three points with 12 seconds left in the game, the Blue Devils were able to hang onto the lead and claim a 55-51 victory.
After the game, Berkshire Head Coach Joe Montanaro provided his thoughts on the positive things the Badgers did, as well as some areas where they can improve.
In particular, he liked the effort he saw from his team, felt the defensive pressure and intensity were good throughout, and liked the off-the-ball movement of his players, which allowed them to get open looks.
The Badgers also did a good job of rebounding the basketball, he added.
“We’re playing hard, we just missed a lot of shots, open shots,” Montanaro said. “We’re getting the shots, so that’s half the battle, to try to get those shots. And we got good kids. I am proud of them all the time.”
The coach also mentioned that a difficult challenge early in the game was getting behind at the outset, then having to use a lot of energy to get back into the contest.
“Right out the get-go, we could not put the ball in the basket,” Montanaro said. “We were down like 12-2, and then we started fighting back and we used a lot of energy.”
Helping the Badgers get back in the game were senior Jack Hastings and junior Gavin Hipp.
After being down early in the contest, Hastings led the Badgers with 11 points in the first half to help the Badgers go into halftime only trailing by three, 24-21.
His coach complimented his excellent performance.
“He comes to play every single night,” Montanaro said. “He’s our hardest working guy at practice.”
In a post-game interview, Hastings talked about his excellent mid-range pull-up jumper that he utilized against the Blue Devils defense.
“I work on that shot a lot, every day at practice, and I am glad to see it pay off,” Hastings said. “That’s kind of been my signature (move). Especially last year, I kind of have been really successful with that shot. It’s hard to guard. You just dribble right at them and then pull up.”
In the second half, the Badgers were led by Hipp, with 15 second-half points.
“I think I got off to a little bit of a slow start in the first,” Hipp said. “But my coaches instilled confidence in me. ‘Keep shooting the ball in the second, they’re going to start falling,’ (they told me).
“Anyone is capable of knocking down the shots. Today it just happened to be me.”
Hipp also led the Badgers with a game-high 19 points. Also contributing to the Badgers’ offense were Hastings (17 points), Cameron Beam (10), Luke Stute (3) and Mason Mendolera (2).
Berkshire would take the court next Jan. 9 in Middlefield to face their rival, the Cardinal Huskies.
