When the game’s on the line, just put the ball in your best player’s hands. That wise strategy worked out quite well as senior Zoe Cohen’s 37 points helped lead the Berkeley Girls Varsity Basketball team past ACIS rival Dwight 63-53 at the BC Athletic Center in Park Slope Thursday afternoon.

They needed every one of the 1,500-plus scorer’s points to pull out a hard fought final regular season game which allowed them to qualify for the ACIS League playoffs, giving them a chance to defend their championship.

Junior forward Ashley Privett chipped in with 10 including four big buckets in the second half to help the Lions rally from a six-point halftime deficit.

A strong third quarter by the BC Lions helped offset a solid first half by the visitors who were looking to avenge their championship game loss a year ago. Instead, it was a couple of quick baskets by Privett including a pivotal three-point play which swung the momentum.

Privett’s inspired play sparked her teammates as they slowly built an eight-point lead. In the final quarter, Cohen nailed a couple of step back treys which increased it to double digits forcing Dwight to call for time.

Fresh in their memory banks was how the Lions ran away with the ACIS title thanks to an unbelievable run erasing as much as a 12-point deficit. This time, it was Dwight trying to turn the tables. A three along with a three-point play sliced it to 51-48. But with the game on the line, Cohen wouldn’t let her school down in front of a packed gym sinking every free throw needed to preserve the win.

That along with a huge left baseline jumper from freshman Keyanka Bailey and some clutch free throws from senior guard Elena Levi allowed them to breath easier as they notched their fifth consecutive win to conclude the regular season.

Boys fall short in rematch against Friends Seminary: Just six days following a tough four-point road loss at Friends Seminary, the Berkeley Carroll Boys Varsity again fell just short in another exciting close game decided again by a few points.

Going basket for basket most of the game at a frenetic pace, the Lions held a six-point halftime lead sparked by the return of junior starting small forward Giancarlo Hirsch (three triples). Much like last game though, BC was done in by stellar guard play from the Friends Seminary tandem of No.12 and No.24.

No.12 once again picked up a technical in the first half getting into foul trouble with three by the half. But he raised his game a couple of notches like in last week’s back and forth fourth quarter getting at least 14 after the break on an assortment. Whether it was via the three-point play or stepping out for a couple of three-point daggers, he was the difference.

When it looked like BC was done, they rallied to tie the score thanks to a couple of nice finishes by junior shooting guard Philip Seay and senior forward Danny Halper. Senior guard Jason Lewis started the run with a turnaround jumper from the charity stripe. When Seay tied it with less than two minutes left, the gym rocked as the home team had all the momentum.

That’s when No.12 stepped to the forefront converting the game’s biggest bucket the hard way. With the shot clock running down, he narrowly slipped under the right baseline and then finished off a nifty play with a left-handed lay-in to give his team a two-point lead.

Following a wild sequence in which Berkeley was unable to get the tying bucket, they fouled on the floor with 34 ticks left. With the shot clock off, they needed to foul twice more to put their opponents in the bonus.

However, a mix-up in coverage resulted in an easy Friends Seminary bucket suddenly making it a two possession game. With Hirsch having four personals, he couldn’t foul which led to the giveaway.

It would prove to be too much to overcome. Despite a steal by Halper with 14 seconds left allowing them call for time to setup a tying three, Lewis’ off balance trey wouldn’t go.

A couple of more free throws from No.12 iced the game allowing Friends to sweep the regular season series by a combined nine points.

With any luck, BC could still see the two-time defending ACIS champions in next week’s final. They’ll have to go through No.5 seeded Packer at their gym Monday and likely Dwight in the semis.

Lewis honored before game: Before they tipped off in the second game of a doubleheader, senior Jason Lewis was honored by BC coach Bob Merrill for surpassing 1,250 career points. The second-year Varsity coach made a nice speech crediting his floor leader for accomplishments on and off the court, also pointing to the senior’s maturity and leadership as well as thanking his family for their support.