Before this afternoon’s scrimmage with Denmark’s Hjemly Idrætsefterskole, one would have assumed the Bears were the decisive underdogs. As the seventeen blonde behemoths strode into Swanson Gymnasium, our boys appeared undersized and outmanned. The Danes also had the benefit of practicing together since August, while our boys have been together for roughly a week, in addition to some skeleton crew sessions thrown together over Thanksgiving break. But once the game began, it was the Danes who looked underprepared and a step too slow.

The Brook got on the board first when Luke Meyer connected on two free throws then, after a Hjemly turnover, Luke O’Connor drilled a 3-pointer to ignite both the bench and the crowd. After the Danes scored on a layup, a Chester Kayonga putback and a Robbie Colarusso free throw gave the Bears an early 8-2 edge. Hjemly scored on their next possession, despite a monster block by Jyles Etienne, but from there the Brook reeled off an 11-3 run to close the quarter, punctuated by an old fashioned three-point play by Colarusso.

The Bear defense, which forced a number of turnovers in the opening frame, held the Danes to just six points in the second quarter. A Meyer jumper, a Colarusso layup, and two layups by Etienne powered the Bears as they carried a 27-13 lead into the half.

The Brook opened up their lead as the third quarter began, fueled once again by their active defense. Kayonga forced a turnover on Hjemly’s first possession then followed that up with a block less than minute later. The offense found another gear as well as an Etienne putback, a Meyer jumper, and two free throws from O’Connor pushed the lead to 20 in a blink. Despite the deficit, the Danes showed their mettle, reeling off seven straight points before Colarusso broke the string with a layup. Hjemly scored to close the quarter and pull within twelve heading into the final frame.

In the fourth, Hjemly closed to within nine points, but a lefty floater from Meyer and a tough up-and-under by Etienne was enough to stem the Danish tide as the Brook pulled out the 43-34 win. Etienne led all scorers with 16, establishing himself as a force inside all game long. Meyer, who was the engine for the offense this evening, finished with 10.

In their next game, the Bears renew hostilities with crosstown rival Port Jeff at home on Saturday night at 6:15pm.

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