By Ted Waddell
LOCH SHELDRAKE — December 16, 2005 – The Sullivan West Bulldogs edged the Spartans of S.S. Seward 51-45 in Monday night’s 2005 Billy Moran Tip-Off Classic boys’ basketball tournament championship game.
In the first quarter, the Spartans jumped out to a two-point lead at 13-11. But the Bulldogs held a 12-6 advantage in the second period to take a 23-19 advantage at halftime.
The lead flip-flopped in the second half. The Spartans outscored SW in the third quarter 13-4, and the Bulldogs battled back to outscore Seward 19-12 in the fourth period.
Kevin Brewer and Derek Hahn each scored a team-high 12 points for SW (4-0). Brett Youmans added 11 points for the Bulldogs.
Jeremy Harter led Seward (2-2) with a game-high 16 points and teammate Brenden Myers netted 12 points.
Both teams shot 56 percent at the free-throw line. SW was 5-for-9 and Seward was 9-for-16.
“Both teams had a hard time hitting open shots and played tenacious defense on the glass,” Seward Coach Bob Gravelle said of the defensive battle.
“Whoever had a little [scoring] run at the end was going to win, but unfortunately we had the second to last run,” he added. “I think we’re a couple of hard working, blue collar teams.”
SW Coach Rick Ellison said it was “a real nice win.”
“The Spartans are a well-coached team,” Ellison continued. “We kept our composure in the fourth period, when we were down three or four with three and a half minutes to go. “For an inexperienced team that hasn’t had a close game yet, it was big for us.”
Ellison said that the Bulldogs still have to gain more confidence in themselves, particularly in terms of offense sets and making better decisions when going to the basket.
The All-Tournament team included: Chris Gates (Fallsburg), Lakarri Byrd (Liberty), Harter (Seward), Sadam Sahmanovic (Seward) and Hahn (SW).
Youmans, a senior forward for SW, was tabbed as the tournament’s MVP.
“It was a pretty close game, and I tried as best I could,” he said.
When asked about making the transition from the gridiron to the basketball court, Youmans said he’s still looking to catch the ball and run downfield with it, not catching it and dribbling to the bucket.
“I get caught in a couple of travels, now and again,” he said.