Indians bounce back with convincing win at East Hardy

After suffering a disappointing 2-point home loss, 50-48, to Frankfort on Tuesday, February 6, Berkeley Springs bounced back with a relatively easy 63-42 road victory over East Hardy on Friday, February 9.

Foster Sirbaugh poured in a game-high 24 points, 18 in the second half, to carry the Indians to the 21-point victory.

After getting off to a slow start offensively, Berkeley Springs started heating up.

Leading 8-5 after the opening eight minutes, the Tribe scored 13 second-quarter points, to take a 6-point lead, 21-15 into the half-time locker room.

"We didn't do a lot offensively in the first half," Berkeley Springs coach Chad Brinegar said. But, we did play solid defense and that helped us gain the upper-hand. We started finding the range in the second, especially Foster, and pulled away for the victory."

Although Berkeley Springs scored 17 points in the third quarter, but East Hardy hung tough and only trailed by 8 points, 38-30, heading into the final quarter of regulation.

Despite 9 fourth-quarter points from East Hardy's Dane Biller, Berkeley Springs was able to out score their Hardy County rival 25-12 in the final eight minutes for the final margin of victory.

Berkeley Springs made 10 of 13 free throws in the final stanza to help seal the deal. Nathan Sirbaugh was perfect 4-4, Foster Sirbaugh made 3 of 4, Sammy Trump 3 of 4 and L.J. Wright 1 of 2. On the night, the Indians made 23 of 33 free throw attempts a big improvement over recent outings.

"We were able to get to the free throw line and convert tonight," Brinegar said. We scored 16 points more tonight from the line than we did against Frankfort. Free throws are an important part of the game and when you can get to the line and make the shots it gives you a decided advantage."

Nathan Sribaugh added 11 points to the Indian total, Trump 6, Robbie Williams 5, Jeremy Michael and Dylan Kraft 4 apiece, Lenny Roach and Wright 3 each, Ian Whibley 2 and Josh Wise 1.

Biller led the Cougars with 14 points.

Frankfort swept the season series with Berkeley Springs earlier in the week, when Danile Alkire hit a short jumper for the Falcons with 5 seconds remaining in the game to break a 48-48 and tie and lift Frankfort to the 50-48 win.

"The kid hit a big shot," Brinegar was quoted as saying. There is not much more we could do."

Berkeley Springs still had one last chance, but Wright's desperation shot at the buzzer was off the mark and the Falcons went back to Mineral County with the two-game sweep of the season series.

Wright, who almost single-handily lifted Berkeley Springs to the come-from-behind victory, was unreal in the final quarter, scoring 15 of the Indians 18 fourth-quarter points, but it wasn't quite enough.

"L.J. took over in the final quarter," said Brinegar. He really stepped his game up and gave us a chance to win. You can't say enough about his effort."

Wright led Berkeley Springs with 18 points, Nathan Sirbaugh added 12, Trump 8, Foster Sirbaugh 6 and Robbie Williams 4 to the Indian total.

Alkire led Frankfort with 18 points, while Natahn Gillespie added 14.

The 9-9 Indians hosted Musselman last night, February 13 and will face an undetermined opponent in the PVC Night of Champions on Saturday, February 17.