Bears Maul Tigers in Brawl

BREWSTER—A young and inexperienced North Salem squad was no match for Brewster at Saturday’s Putnam County Challenge tournament. The Bears took control early on – applying plenty of defensive pressure and playing a solid all-around game in securing a 67-53, non-league victory at Brewster High School.

Brewster’s Andrew Sniffen draws a crowd as he looks to shoot in win over North Salem Saturday. The tournament – which featured PEARLMAN BASKETBALL

four games at Brewster – is put on by the area officials organization each year to raise money for a scholarship that is given at the end of the season to one senior student-athlete from the tournament.

Lincoln Hall beat Mahopac in the first game (see related story), Putnam Valley topped Haldane in game 2 (see related story), Croton Harmon took

on Westlake in game 3, and Brewster PEARLMAN BASKETBALL

Jordan Cirocco of Brewster heads toward the rack in Bears win over Tigers. SKIP PEARLMAN tripped up North Salem in the nightcap.

Brewster set the tone early, pressing the Tigers full-court and forcing a number of turnovers - including 16 Brewster steals - which the Bears usually turned in to points.

Brewster led 18-10 after one, 36-21 by halftime, and the Bears carried a 60- 35 cushion into the fourth.

The Bears got a balanced scoring effort, with several players filling up stat lines.

Senior guard and team captain Jordan Cirocco dropped 21 on the Tigers, and added five rebounds, four assists and four steals to earn game MVP honors. Jack Dignan had a strong game with 11 points, four steals, four assists and three rebounds, and Andrew Sniffen had nine points, four rebounds and two steals. George Waters came through with nine points on 4-of-6 shooting, and Mark Delzio chipped in with eight points, three steals and three assists.

George Waters of Brewster glides to the basket Saturday at Brewster.of his 19 points against Hen Hud last week. SKIP PEARLMAN Mark Matthews led North Salem (1- 5) with 10 points.

There was bad news for Brewster. Six-four, senior forward Sean Trainor injured his ankle on a play at the sideline near mid-court, and had to leave the game with what looked like at least a bad sprain. As of press time, the injury was listed as a sprain, but no x-rays had yet been taken. Bears coach John Martino said Trainor’s status is “gameto game.”

The coach liked the balance and the defensive pressure he saw from his team – and the rewards of that defense.

“We had a number of players contribute,” Martino said. “We went 21-of-41 from two-point range, and 6-of-20 from three… 18 of those were good shots. I think we played hard. We forced 16 steals and defended well full-court… we caused them some problems.”

Brewster’s Jack Dignan puts up a shot in Bears win Saturday. SKIP PEARLMAN Brewster improved to 5-1 with its fifth consecutive win, after opening the season with a loss to Hen Hud.

“I think we have to be happy with a fifth straight win,” Martino said. “The whole team really did it for us in this game… Cirocco played well, and we were unselfish in transition. This is a group that gets along, and plays unselfish and hard every night. And they play good team defense.”

Brewster hosts Panas Friday night at 7:30 p.m. The Brewster girls were scheduled to host the Panas girls at 5 p.m. as part of a double-header.

PEARLMAN BASKETBALL
BREWSTER 67
North Salem 53
Croton Harmon
Westlake 59