Fourth quarter scoring slump dooms Indians

The Berkeley Springs boys basketball team was unable to protect an eight-point, fourth-quarter, lead and lost to Clear Spring on December 22, in Berkeley Springs.

The Indians led throughout, including an 11-7 lead after the first quarter, 29-27 at the half and 44-36 heading into the final stanza, before the Blazers took advantage of some Berkeley Springs turnovers to down the Indians.

Clear Spring started the final quarter on a 4-0 run to cut Berkeley's lead to 44-40 before a bucket from Richard Recio put the Tribe back on top 46-40. The Blazers went on another run to tie the game at 46-46. Brady Spielman hit one of two free throws to put the Indians back on top, 47-46 with 4:10 remaining, but Clear Spring outscored Berkeley Springs 8-2 down the stretch to improve to 6-0 on the year.

Zach Wise and Brady Spielman led Berkeley Springs with 11 points each. Derrick Cowles and Recio added eight points each, Jared Spielman scored five, Mike Twigg had four points and Ryan Tyser rounded out the offense with two.

Ryan Aaron and Nick Hill paced the Blazers with 15 and 13 points, respectively.

The Berkeley Springs junior varsity and ninth grade teams beat Clear Spring.

The junior varsity rolled to 52-38 victory behind 14 points from Brandon Malone and 13 from Michael Kearney, while the ninth grade squad got 17 points from Brandon McCumbee to take down the Blazers 65-40.