It took all four quarters for Berkshire to take the season series from rival Cardinal this season.
Both teams have little depth, using about six players each, including plenty of young men. Only three seniors total logged minutes for each team.
Berkshire coach Keith Clapacs was happy that Berkshire (9-9 to start the week) was able to finish the game with the 52-42 win despite being tied at 32 at the beginning of the fourth quarter.
“Our group is still learning how to win, and there are a lot of different ways to win a basketball game,” Clapacs said.
Despite fighting through double teams, Jarett Smetana led all scorers with 17 points, one below his average. He also had five rebounds.
“He’s our work-horse, and we play off of him,” the coach said.
Sophomores Emil Hess, Nick Guarnera and Ryan Johnson are all bright young Badger players. Johnson’s 10 points off the bench were critical in the second half.
“He’s a match up problem,” Clapacs said, “when you are giving Jarett all the extra attention and Sam (Fisher) is the primary ball-handler. So he’s going to get the ball in spots where he can get to the hoop.”
Fisher also had 17 points and controlled the tempo on offense, playing most of the game’s 32 minutes.
“I’m trying to get better at running the point and keeping my composure,” said Fisher, a junior. “I need to keep my head up on the floor, and find the open man.”
He sunk four 3-pointers during the game, and knew his shot was there during warm-ups.
Berkshire shot 13-19 from the free throw line, including senior Mitch Freeman’s 5-of-5. He finished with seven points.
“I thought we were going to blow them out, honestly,” Freeman said. “But they are playing better than they were before.”
To see video of Jarett Smetana and Ryan Johnson, visit the online version of this story at www.geaugamapleleaf. com/sports.
The Huskies began the week at 4-11 and have used a large junior class — Craig Kaser, Jake Francis, Andrew Miller and Cody Naftzger — with seniors Jerry Tamburro and Cody Hunt this year.
Francis had 15 points, while Tamburro finished with 14.
“That’s been a problem all season, that’s been our biggest point in losing,” Tamburro said, referring to the Huskies inability to close out games. “We’re always in games. But when it comes down to it, we just fall apart. We do it every time. Seems like it’s just not getting there.”
Losing can be tough on seniors, so Tamburro paused when asked how he was holding up as a leader in the locker room.
“I come to practice thinking I have to be a team player,” he said. “But at the same time, I want to do my part and score, do what I have to to help the team.”
Francis had a team-high five rebounds. The Huskies team rebounding has been solid. All six Cardinal players had three rebounds or more.
“It’s always tough to lose to Berkshire, but we came out and played hard and fought to the end,” Francis said.
With eight juniors on the varsity roster, “next year is going to be a good year for us,” he said.