Yesterday afternoon, the boys’ varsity basketball team won their sixth straight game and improved their PSAA record to 5-1 with a 61-57 win at Lawrence Woodmere. The victory allowed them to remain just a game behind undefeated Portledge in the race for the league title, setting up a key battle in Locust Valley this Friday.

Wednesday’s victory was an impressive one, given the fact that the Bears were missing two key players before losing a third to a first-quarter injury. The challenge bred opportunity, and several individuals stepped up to lead the Blue & White to the win.

The Bears started strong, as has been their habit during the current winning streak, outscoring the hosts 18-11 in the first quarter behind eight points from Federico Chiappa. Nate Small led the way in the second frame with eight points, including a pair of 3-pointers, but the Tigers clawed into their deficit to trail 25-30 at the half.

Both sides battled to a 14-14 stalemate in the third as Randolph Logan led the way for the Bears with seven points to set up a taut final frame. Over the last eight minutes, the Tigers found their most potent offensive rhythm of the night, but the Bears kept pace thanks to nine more points for Logan.

Logan was the hero of the night with a team-high 19 while Small and Orlando Morris each added 12 to offset the 11 3-pointers that Woodmere drained. Chiappa (8 points), Andreas Simoni (6), Charlie Onana Awana (4), and John Bui (3) rounded out the scoring.

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