Berkley Boys Hang on in OT to Down Stoney Creek, 54-46

BERKLEY – 's boys basketball team stepped off the pedal in the fourth quarter on Friday night and almost gave one away at home.

Stoney Creek erased a 13-point deficit in the fourth quarter by outscoring the Bears 19-6 in the final eight minutes. The Cougars forced overtime, but Berkley (2-5) refocused on the defensive end and didn’t allow a single point in extra time to win 54-46.

“We knew we let them back and in and messed up,” Berkley guard Damon Eldridge said. “We were going to get it back with our defense. Just scrapped it out.” 

Eldridge had four of the Bears’ eight points in overtime – on four consecutive free throws – and had two key steals. The senior finished with a game-high 18 points.

The Cougars (0-9) turned the ball over six times in overtime and made some mental errors that cost them the game.

“We are pretty young and you could see our youth,” Stoney Creek coach Steve Norgrove said.

The biggest mistake came in the final minute of overtime when Eldridge stole the ball from Patrick Mertz at midcourt.

With the game tied 46-46, Mertz didn’t need to foul, but the sophomore panicked and grabbed Eldridge’s jersey. He was called for an intentional foul, which gave Berkley two free throws and possession of the ball.

“He’s a sophomore and I think he got caught up in the emotion of the situation, he reacted and didn’t think through the play,” Norgrove said. “Players are going to make mistakes, but the game doesn’t come down to one mistake. He just has to grow from it.”

The foul ended up being a four-point swing for the Bears. Eldridge hit both of his free throws and then Alec Roy was fouled on Berkley’s possession. The senior forward nailed both of his attempts to give his team a 50-46 lead.

Even though his team fell short, Norgrove had nothing but positive things to say about his team’s performance.  

“To be honest with you, this is the most complete game we’ve actually played,” Norgrove said. “Even though we are in Game 9, for us, a game like this is Game 1 - (because) it was this competitive.”

Berkley outscored Stoney Creek 17-7 in the third quarter and went into the fourth with a 40-27 lead. The Cougars scored the first nine points of the quarter to make it a two-possession game.

Ben Temrowski would give Stoney Creek its first lead of the half, 45-44, on a jumper with 1:20 to go. Temrowski was the Cougars’ leading scorer with 13 points.

Berkley lost its first five games of the season, but has now won two straight. Bears coach David McGlown is happy with how his team is coming together headed into league play next week.

“Everybody’s getting together and coming together as a team at the right team, leagues start next week,” McGlown said.