by Ryan Mosher
Despite losing two of their last three games, the Berlin boys basketball team traveled to Loudonville on Friday having improved their play drastically since they hosted the Eagles to open the season. Friday night was a special night for the Eagles, as their standout guard Cullen Overholt stood just 14 points away from becoming the first LCS boys basketball player to reach 1,000 career points. The Mountaineers seemed to have little interest in letting him reach that milestone, as they opened the game playing him very tough on defense. The entire first quarter turned into a defensive matchup, with both teams fighting just to score. After one quarter, Loudonville led 9-5.
In the second quarter Overholt went off, leading the Eagles on a charge. Burying two free throws late in the quarter gave him his milestone, as well as giving Loudonville a large lead. At halftime they led 29-12.
Berlin’s offense finally came to life in the second half. Starters Drew Webster and Seth Hawk both hit big three-pointers for the Mountaineers. Then it was the Berlin bench that seemed to pump some energy back into the team. Tyler Bacon came in and converted a three-point play, as well as playing tough defense and adding good passing to the Mountaineers’ game. Llewellyn Palmer also came up big in the third quarter, knocking down a short jumper and then hitting two free throws. Berlin scored 15 points in the quarter, but it was not enough as Loudonville continued to roll, outscored the Mountaineers and led 53-27.
Berlin also played well in the fourth quarter, led by Webster who scored half of his team high 12 points in the quarter. The Mountaineers could not contain one of the top teams in the CHVL though, as the Eagles, who only had eight players, scored another 20 points, making the final 73-40. Webster led Berlin with 12 points, while Overholt led the Eagles with 25, and Eagle Luke Khachadourian added 19.