Boys basketball: Bethlehem pulls away from Niskayuna

Myles Bergere made the most of his third start of the season. The junior forward scored 23 points and pulled down 14 rebounds to lead Bethlehem past Niskayuna 66-49 in Friday's Suburban Council boys basketball game. "He's done a very nice job," Bethlehem coach AG Irons said of Bergere, who started in place of an injured Matt O'Keefe. "He's the kind of kid who works all the time and never gives up." Bethlehem (8-2 league, 8-4 overall) hobbled into Friday's game following a 73-71 home loss to Shenendehowa three nights earlier and without two of its regular starters -- O'Keefe and guard Shane Natale, who injured his knee in the Shen game. But the Eagles started strong against Niskayuna as they jumped out to an 18-7 lead in the first quarter and extended it to 36-23 at halftime behind strong efforts from Bergere and senior swingman Casey McGraw, who combined for 20 of their team's first-half points. The Silver Warriors (2-8, 2-9) got back in the game in a hurry, thanks to Austin Clock. The senior forward made a pair of three-pointers to spark a 12-0 Niskayuna run that pulled the home team within one point of Bethlehem less than three minutes into the third quarter. "We certainly executed well in that early stretch," said Niskayuna coach Ian McShane. Bethlehem's size and physical play down low eventually won out over Niskayuna's speed and aggressive defense, though. Bergere and freshman forward John Sica hit several clutch shots and pulled down rebound after rebound to help the Eagles pull away for good. "I give credit to my guys for hanging in there and responding to their run," said Irons. "We gave up a bunch of offensive rebounds and got them to the free throw line," said McShane. "That's what hurt us down the stretch." Sica also finished with a double-double for Bethlehem, as he had 11 points and 14 rebounds. McGraw contributed 13 points, despite missing the fourth quarter with an injury he suffered late in the third period, and sophomore guard Connor Morelli added 10 points. Clock did what he could to keep Niskayuna in the game. He drained four three-pointers in the second half on his way to a 16-point night, but no other Silver Warrior finished in double figures. "Austin has done a fantastic job," McShane said of Clock. "He's an outstanding leader in a number of respects. He should be proud of what he's doing, and we have to get the others to bring that same level of energy that Austin has to practice and to our games." Bethlehem gets a week off before facing Shaker next Friday in a key cross-divisional game. The Blue Bison are tied with Shen for first place in the Suburban Council North Division, while Bethlehem is battling Guilderland for South Division supremacy. "We definitely didn't want to enter our week off on a loss, that's for sure," said Irons. Niskayuna has a non-league game against Green Tech next Tuesday before resuming league play Sunday. Jan. 29, against Mohonasen at the Times Union Center in Albany.

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Boys basketball: Bethlehem pulls away from Niskayuna

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