By Gabby Ortiz
NORTH ROYALTON, OHIO – North Royalton Bears defeated their rival Brecksville-Broadview Heights in what was an exciting and intense finish. The Bears improve to 13-9 overall with a 47-42 victory over the Brecksville Bees.
The North Royalton Gymnasium had a different feel to it and judging by the atmosphere, this game wasn’t going to be just an ordinary game. It was the rivalry game, the game that players and fans get a little more excited for. Both the home and visitor stands were jammed packed, elbow to elbow filled with students from both schools, and family and friends. The battle of the Bears and the Bees was on.
From the start of the game, both teams played with intensity and physicality, each team had several missed shots before they would score their first basket. Both teams set the tone defensively, and made it difficult for one another to establish any kind of offensive rhythm.
Bears Guard Christian Limer, hit two back to back three pointers that would allow the Bears to go on a 7-0 run to start the second quarter. The Bees lost grip on defense allowing the Bears to take a 22-14 lead. The Bears would soon follow and allow the Bees to creep back in the game bringing the score within two points, 22-20 at halftime.
The second half of the game was filled with plenty of emotion and excitement. The crowd was anxious for their teams to pull away but the biggest lead was 10 points, by the Bears. The Bees would inch close but never were fully able to gain the lead. The Bears were faster, fresher, and dominate defensively.
“We brought it defensively tonight, we really had to make them work, and tried to take Kenny Ganley out of the equation, we did a really good job on him, and I thought the first game he really hurt us. Brecksville is tough, and they are very well coached, Coach Mehalik does an unbelievable job with his team.” Says Bears Coach Nick Lapsevich.
The Bees were just a couple of stops away from stealing the victory from the Bears but ultimately came up short. Two crucial steals by Bears Guard, Jack Bunsey sealed the deal for the Bears and handed the Bees their second straight loss to the Bears.
“Those were big says Coach Lapsevich, they were pushing the ball down there, and we were trying not to give them a three and their pitching the ball ahead and he (Bunsey), got right underneath them and picked them off like a safety, so that was very clutch for us.”
North Royalton Bears will head on the road to take on Nordonia High School on Friday, February 16 @ 7:30pm. Brecksville Bees will face the Wadsworth Grizzlies at home on Friday, February 16 @ 7:30pm.
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