PARK SLOPE, BK-The Winter Games have started with rapid fire over in Vancouver, generating plenty of excitement when NBC isn’t screwing over viewers. While many dramas unfold in British Columbia, there was a different kind much closer to home over in The Slope off President Street between sixth and seventh Avenue.
Indeed, the final hoops doubleheader of a hectic season took place with the Berkeley Carroll Girls Varsity and the JV Boys splitting in two entertaining games at the Athletic Center. The action was spontaneous with each game having their own storyline that gave loyal supporters plenty to cheer for.
In the first game, the Lady Lions fought hard but came up a little short losing to ACIS league rival Dwight 41-29. Second-year coach Morgan Sevigny’s club got off to a decent start trading baskets with their more experienced foe. One issue was their opponent’s size. Top scorer Keyanka Bailey had her hands full against a trio that made her and teammates work. Thanks to a Morgo Miller bucket, they still led 7-6 in a low scoring first quarter in which both schools misfired and turned the ball over.
With BC paying close attention to Dwight’s dangerous junior scoring guard, it eventually led to open looks for the Upper Manhattan school who turned a poor shooting close half around. They went on a 14-2 run to take a comfortable 20-9 lead into the break. But as they have all season, the Lady Lions responded quickly with a three-point barrage. Tess Salvatore finally hit from downtown and Bailey- who earlier spent most of the second on the bench due to a turned ankle- nailed a couple as well as BC went on a 12-2 run slicing the deficit to 22-18.
The swing in momentum forced Dwight to call for time and regroup. They did with their speedy junior guard setting up a teammate for three consecutive baskets, pushing it back to 10. Bailey, who scored more than half her team high 17 in the second half, kept them in it with another trey as did first-year starter Sarah Paller. They still trailed by eight thanks to a three from Dwight’s leading scorer who finished with 20. Plus she set up her open floor mate again for an easy deuce.
Despite a few sloppy turnovers due in large part to the defense they faced, the younger Berkeley Carroll squad played hard nosed D themselves to stay afloat, getting a couple of steals from Olivia Wilson along with a Bailey theft and sweet finish. Another trifecta from Salvatore cut it to 35-29 with four and change left. However, they couldn’t draw any nearer despite forcing Dwight into a miscue.
Instead, the bitter rival who BC came back to stun for the league title a few years back finished strong, running off the final six to win by a dozen.
The back end of the double was just as fun with AD Joe Wood subbing for coach Carmine Giovino with success as his boys held off St. Ann’s 49-44. Minus their emotional leader, the JV did just fine with Wood, who coaches a strong BC middle school girls team, doing an admirable job. He even got help from Varsity player Adam Kochman, who scored 11 in a five-point road defeat at St. Ann’s.
Thanks to some hot shooting from new starter Blaise Cohen, the Lions came out quickly, taking an early 9-4 lead. Cohen scored six of his eight in the opening stanza, including three in succession. Though they fell behind early, St. Ann’s hung around thanks to plenty of finish from the game’s leading scorer, who got most of his 20 inside the paint. Berkeley Carroll had a tough time containing him.
They also got a few inside baskets from another starter. Following a strong start, Wood’s club struggled with their opponent’s full court pressure, turning the ball over. While St. Ann’s took advantage suddenly using an 8-0 spurt to surge ahead 18-17, the Lions were a little unnerved taking a few quick shots. However, a nice finish from sixth man Anthony Spina helped them stay ahead at the half.
After intermission, Berkeley Carroll built the lead back up with both Dondre Benson and Milo Ben Amotz going to work. Benson got more than half his team best 13 and Ben Amotz, who hit from downtown, chipped in with 11 including a nice finish for a three-point play earlier.
A big plus for Wood’s crew was that seven different players factored in with both Spina and Cohen each netting eight. The prideful Lions AD also subbed people in and out, keeping his guys fresh. When it got tight in the final frame, he used a timeout to restore order. The Lions also switched to a tight 2-3 zone packing it in against a team that didn’t have any perimeter threats. With the exception of a couple of instances, the strategic change paid dividends, allowing them to preserve a four-point lead.
With St. Ann’s putting on large halfcourt pressure, Spina recovered in time to help set up the biggest hoop of the game from Mike Andria, who made his two count with an easy finish for 44-38. Some sweet dishing allowed Benson to extend to eight. From there, they held their feisty opponent off earning a win to conclude the regular season.
Notes: Duncan Hardy and Will Perry also made the scoresheet with key baskets. … Depending on where they finished, the Lions could host a playoff quarterfinal next Monday. … The Lady Lions conclude the regular season by making up last week’s snowout versus L.R.E.I. tomorrow afternoon with tipoff at 4 PM.