PARK SLOPE, BK-It was a new season but with two different Varsity basketball coaches for the Berkeley Carroll Lions.

While the girls fell 38-34 to visitor Calhoun despite 25 from sophomore Keyanka Bailey in new coach Morgan Sevigny’s debut on the sidelines, it was a good beginning for the Varsity boys who returned senior floor duo Giancarlo Hirsch and Phil Seay with both getting in the act as the team held off Calhoun 64-55 at the BC Athletic Center Monday in Park Slope.

Hirsch paced them with 21 while Seay chipped in 13 as the Lions made their home opener a successful one under the new leadership of Coach Mike Kubera, who took over replacing two-year coach Bob DeMerrill who moved back with family to Michigan.

If yesterday was any indication with a younger squad able for the most part to execute their three guard offense, it could be an exciting season in Park Slope for the school who also has another tuneup later today facing off against Evangel Christian Academy.

Joe Longo dialed up from long distance providing additional scoring and returnee John Shaughnessy did some damage underneath with some hustle plays and putbacks. First-year starter Sean Cunningham also chipped in in the scoring department including the recipient of a nice backdoor pass finishing it off with a lefty lay-in.

They came out of the gate quickly jumping out to a 13-3 lead forcing their Upper West Side opponents to call for time and regroup. With both Hirsch and Seay finishing in a variety of ways including downtown and on an array of driving hoops, the new co-captains led by example in a game they never trailed despite their pesky opponent’s refusal to go quietly.

Up comfortably at halftime, the Lions came out strong in the third quarter building a 16-point lead but never could pull completely away thanks in large part to the play of Calhoun’s best player No.24 who netted a game high 28 with more than half coming in the final 16 minutes. He was a tough guard for the undersized Lions due to his finishing ability around the basket.

It was his play along with the energy of banged up guard No.4 who gutted it out draining a three from the left corner to make it a contest slicing into single digits. But the Lions showed better poise down the stretch thanks to Hirsch, Seay and Longo, who each took turns breaking the press and moving the ball around in the halfcourt set while eating valuable time.

It was Hirsch who stepped up draining a pair to give the home team enough cushion to pickup the victory.

Notes: Lone senior Ashley Privett chipped in with a couple of big buckets to help Bailey out giving the Lady Lions a brief one-point lead. She finished with five. … The JV Boys kickoff their season with a home tilt versus Evangel Christian at 4 with the Varsity Boys looking to make it two for two on their home floor. … Former Girls Varsity coach Walter Paller was in the gym looking on the proceedings and curious as to how his students performed. … These are the last games before the Thanksgiving Break with both Varsity squads returning to action next Wednesday 12/3 with a home and home against Lawrence Woodmere Academy.