11-13-2011 | Berman Cougars beat RASG Warriors in OT, 67-60

The game between the Berman Cougars and the RASG Warriors started off extremely quick considering both teams finished off their Saturday night opponents at 1:30 AM. Each team scored on their first two possessions with the Warriors scoring on the first 4 out of 5 possessions to jump out to an easy 9-5 lead. Berman came back in a hurry, hitting a shot in the closing seconds to tie the score 11 all at quarters end.

The second quarter continued at a relatively fast pace with both teams scoring at ease. RASG lead 21-18 halfway through the quarter. The teams traded baskets for the remainder of the quarter with the Warriors holding a 27-26 lead at the half.

Berman came out on fire in the second half, storming out to a 34-31 lead by hitting two 3-pointers. The Warriors then hastily recovered with a 6-0 run of their own to go up 37-34. The rest of the third belonged to Berman as they retook the lead and continued to pile it on as they went on an 11-3 run to end the quarter ahead, 42-40.

The fourth quarter was more of the same with teams trading baskets and Berman holding an ever so slim 53-50 advantage. With the game winding down, Berman split a pair of free throws with 51 seconds remaining for a 54-51 lead. Then, Morris Esformes of the Warriors hit his first basket of the game, a 3-pointer, to lock the score at an even 54-54 with 41 seconds remaining. RASG played stifling defense until the end of the fourth, not letting Berman even get a shot off. The game went into overtime.

Berman came out in overtime scorching hot, with Hirschy Zaks hitting two huge 3-pointers for a commanding 6 point lead. After adding a free throw to go up by 7, the Warriors finally got on the board to cut Berman's lead to 5. Berman was able to hit a few free throws down the stretch to hold on for a 67-60 victory in overtime. Hirschy Zaks and Dani Strauss each hot for 19 points for the Cougars and Adam Eisenberg led all scorers with 29 points.