BERNE — The question isn’t the size of the fight in the Bulldogs, but how long they put it up.

The Berne-Knox-Westerlo boys’ basketball team struggled early before clawing their way back to force overtime in Friday’s game against Schoharie. But the Bulldogs’ fight went away as they lost, 56-55.
"It’s a huge disappointment for our team," said BKW Coach Andy Wright after the game. "You love to have the opportunity to win the game. We were down nine at halftime, but we battled back in the third quarter.
"We get off to slow starts," Wright added after Friday’s game. "We were down by nine at halftime tonight and we were down by seven at halftime to Duanesburg. We are not playing our type of game in the first half. We are not dictating the tempo. I had to fire them up at halftime both nights."

BKW beat Duanesburg, 46-42, on Tuesday.

But against Schoharie, the Bulldogs didn’t have enough to pull out the victory after forcing the extra session.

Tense ending

Sophomore David Sikule made a three-point basket with 15 seconds left in regulation to knot the game at 49-49.

The Bulldogs had a chance to win the game in the fourth quarter when Matt Lounsbury stole a pass and Wright called a timeout. But the Bulldogs couldn’t get a good shot off in the final seconds and the game went into overtime.

The teams traded foul shots to begin the extra frame. Schoharie got two from Jesse Bradt and BKW got one from Joe Conklin.

Schoharie took a three-point lead on a drive to the hoop by Wade Schaffer. Schaffer was fouled but did not convert the free throw.

BKW cut the lead back to one with 2:20 left in the overtime. Josh Skinner tossed in both ends of a one-and-one at the free-throw line.

But the Indians continued to stay ahead when Zakkary Martinez scored after grabbing a rebound off a missed shot by Bradt.

The Bulldogs got a foul shot from Lenny Coons to cut the lead to two and tied the game up soon after Lounsbury made a steal.

Lounsbury stole a pass and drove to the basket for a lay-up that tied the game 55-55. But it would be the last points the Bulldogs would score.

Schaffer scored the winning point for the Indians on a foul shot with 1:15 left in the game.

Neither team could score in the final minute and the Bulldogs couldn’t get that last shot to go down.
"The boys wanted to beat this team," Wright said. "We had two competitive games with them last year and we won one of them."

Bradt led all scorers with 22 points in the contest. Schaffer added 13 for the Indians.

BKW had four players reach double figures. Lounsbury and Coons each scored 12 points. Sikule and Skinner each added 10 points for the Bulldogs.

Coons was constantly hounded by Schoharie defenders for the entire game.
"They played Lenny Coons very well," Wright said. "He draws double teams in most games. They double-team him and he still scores in double figures."

Slow start

The Bulldogs got off to a slow start but weren’t blown away in the first quarter, trailing by just three points, 16-13. BKW struggled in the second quarter, getting outscored, 13-7, and trailed 29-20 at the intermission.
"We’re not going to achieve our potential if we are unable to play competitively in the first half," Wright said. "To win against skilled teams, they’ll hold that against you and beat you.
"I didn’t think we would have three losses this early," Wright added. "I thought we would have two at most. The third is a real blow."

The Bulldogs opened the season with a split in the Rensselaer Tournament. They lost to Hoosick Falls in the opening game but came back to beat Heatly in the consolation contest. BKW then lost to Canajoharie to begin the Western Athletic Conference season.

But the Bulldogs will have help on the way. On Monday, Mike Hopper, who transferred from Voorheesville, was cleared by the New York State Public High School Athletic Association and will play on Friday. Hopper is 6 feet, 10 inches and will provide a big inside presence for the Bulldogs.

The Christmas break will not provide much of a rest for the Bulldogs. BKW is entered in the Tamarac Tournament this Friday and Saturday. The Bulldogs take on Watervliet in the first game.

The Bulldogs then travel to St. Johnsville to take on Herkimer in the two-day St. Johnsville Tournament on Dec. 27 and 28.

BKW returns to league play with a contest against Schenectady Christian on Jan. 3.
"We play four games over the Christmas break," Wright said. "Two of those opponents are the real deal. I believe Watervliet and Herkimer are both state-ranked."

But Wright feels those games will make his team stronger in what is going to be a tough WAC season.
"It’s going to be a competitive season in the league," Wright said. "The past few years, it’s just been two teams. This year, it’s going to be a battle. Teams will be fighting."