by Jamie Harris
Going into last Thursday night’s Class AA Region I Championship game the Berkeley Springs High School Indians knew they had a daunting task in front of them. In order for the Tribe to advance to the Class AA State Championship tournament Berkeley Springs would need to pull off the upset of the year.
Facing the defending two time and unbeaten state champions the Fairmont Senior Polar Bears the Indians felt ready for the battle on March 8.
Fairmont Senior lived up to their billing as the number one team in the state as they opened the game on fire and out scored the Indians 93-32.
The first quarter saw the Polar Bears race out to a 19-3 lead. The 16 point deficit was something Berkeley Springs would not be able to recover from. Senior Colin Breeden hit a three point shot for the Indians only score.
In the second quarter Fairmont Senior started to torch the Indians as they outscored the Tribe 29-13 to take a 48-16 halftime lead. Junior Ethan Barkley led the Indians in the second quarter with seven points. Nathan Osborn, Ayden Lackey and Mason Sipes each added two points each.
In the third quarter the Indians offense continued to struggle against the Polar Bears pressure defense. Fairmont Senior outscored the Indians 25-5 in the third stanza. Breeden was able to score the five for the Indians.
In the fourth quarter Berkeley Springs was once again outscored by Fairmont Senior 20-11. Breeden led the way with four points while Barkley added three. Osborn and Sipes added two points each.
Berkeley Springs was led overall by senior Breeden. The senior who just last week scored his 1,000th career point led the Indians with 12 points in his final game as an Indian basketball player.
Barkley added 10 points, while seniors Osborn and Sipes ended their senior careers with four points. Another senior Lackey finished with two points.
The Indians loss marked the end of a successful 17-7 season under head coach Chad Brinegar.
