Berkley Boys Basketball Edges Oak Park 67-60 in Districts

Berkley had a distinct advantage, record-wise, over Oak Park entering Monday's district opener at Southfield High School.

The Bears (12-8) struggled against the Knights (2-16), but came out victorious, 67-60.

Berkley started quickly with a layup just three seconds in by Justin Peguese, but the Bears would not score again until there was 4:19 left in the first when Max Unger had a block that led to a transition basket by Ryan Bush.

The Bears were in foul trouble early, committing seven fouls and could not get in rhythm on offense. Oak Park’s defense did not allow Berkley any easy baskets. The Bears committed six turnovers in the first quarter.

But, after an Oak Park turnover, Damon Eldridge hit a 3-pointer to put them up 11-10. Oak Park’s Donovan Moore had a steal and a layup to put the team up by one before a Jason Taylor jumper gave the Bears a 13-12 lead after the first.

Berkley went cold in the second quarter, going three minutes without a basket before Eldridge’s drive to the basket cut the lead to 25-22. Oak Park would go up as many as six points before Max Unger and Conor Reid hit back-to-back 3-pointers to tie the game up at the half at 28 all.

“The first half we didn’t play a great game. We played an OK game," coach David McGlown said. “We knew in the second half we started all over it was 0-0  and we had to come out and rebound and play-hard nose basketball like we have been all season long."

Both teams came out flying in the third quarter. They went back and forth exchanging defensive stands. Oak Park took a five-point lead with 2:54 left before a Max Unger block led to Ryan Bush driving and getting fouled. He sank both free throws to cut the lead to 42-39. 

Bush drew a double team and passed to Daniel Waldhorn, who scored to pull Berkley within one at 42-41.

After a Berkley free throw tied the game up, Unger hit a jumper with 20 seconds left to give Berkley the lead heading into the fourth quarter.

The final stretch belonged to Berkley. Bush continued to draw fouls and scored on a pair of free throws after driving to the basket to go up 46-42. A huge steal by Reid, who had a monster fourth quarter, led to a Peguese jumper which resulted in a six-point lead. After Moore hit a three from the corner to cut the lead to three, it was Reid who hit a 3-pointer from NBA range to extend the lead to six, 53-47.

“Conor is a senior on our team and he wasn’t ready to go home just yet,” McGlown said. “It gave us some separation and that shot really helped us get ahead and give us some room to work with."

Reid finished with 10 points, seven of them in the fourth quarter.  Berkley had a balanced-scoring attack with Unger finishing with 12 points and Bush with 16 points and five assists.

Berkley advances to play Detroit Renaissnace on Wednesday at 4 p.m.