By Mike Ramczyk
Sports Editor
Despite being an underdog in a hostile environment, the fourth-seeded Burlington boys basketball team was in position to upset top-seeded Union Grove in a Feb. 28 Division 2 regional semifinal.
The Demons, who lost two previous games to the Broncos during the season, built a six-point lead in the fourth quarter. That lead dwindled, but Burlington clung to a one-point with the ball and 45 seconds to play.
However, senior guard Luke Dahl was called for traveling, and Union Grove made Burlington pay with a layup with 15 seconds left.
With 10 seconds to go, the Demons were fouled and had a chance to regain the lead. But after Burlington missed two foul shots, the Grove made two to make it 49-46.
With two seconds left, the Demons got a good look at the top of the key but couldn’t connect on a triple.
The three-point victory sent Union Grove to Saturday’s regional final, where it lost, 55-54, to Greenfield on a last-second 3-pointer.
Burlington finished its season with a 10-14 record after three straight conference titles from 2011-13.
“We played extremely great defensively,” said Burlington coach Steve Berezowitz. “We probably outplayed them, and we were much better than the first two times we faced them. The Grove’s experience was invaluable.”
“I’m really proud of our guys. We were right there.”
Berezowitz said the Broncos slowed the game down with a methodical offense. Burlington wanted to play uptempo, but Union Grove kept the Demons under control.
Ben Geiger led the Demons with 18 points.
Frankie Hozeska added 10 points and 16 rebounds.
Dahl, who returned this postseason after an ankle injury, said it was a thriller.
“Even with both teams in foul trouble, we figured how to stick in the game,” he said. “With some calls not going either teams’ way, I think both teams responded well by good defense and hitting shots on offense.”
Getting better each day
With five new starters this season, the Demons faced a tough nonconference schedule and had to learn on the fly. But Berezowitz said his guys were right there with just about everyone.
Geiger led the Demons with 15.4 points per game, good for third in conference.
Hozeska added 12.4 points per game and led the team in rebounding.
“Ben had a real consistent year,” Berezowitz said. “Everyone geared defense toward him, but he had a great year. Frankie and the other guys kept getting better and better.”
“At 10-14 I think it was a successful season,” Dahl said. “With no returning starters, we managed to pull together eventually. But the record is not what it’s all about. We mainly focused on getting better every day.”
Berezowitz learned that it’s all about the journey.
“Success isn’t always defined by conference titles,” he said. “They are great kids, and they kept getting better. In general, I watched their maturity athletically and emotionally. That’s what I enjoyed most.”
-
-
-
-
-