http://news.therecord.com/Sports/article/646663
By Mark Bryson, Record staff
WATERLOO — With Stefan Cvrkalj getting the lion’s share of the attention, the Beney Bros. made the most of their opportunity to shine.
Andrew Beney had 13 points and Karsten Beney chipped in with 12 as the Bluevale Knights scored a sloppy 51-49 win over the Sir John A. Macdonald Highlanders on Thursday afternoon. Despite being double-teamed for much of the game, Cvrkalj led the Knights with 19 points as they improved to 4-0 in the Waterloo County senior boys basketball standings while dropping SJAM to 3-1.
Andrew Beney, who was a monster on the boards, scored 11 of his points in the first half as the Knights led 30-25 at the break. Karsten scored eight in the second as the Highlanders clearly focused their defensive attention on Cvrkalj.
“Other people have to step up when they double (Cvrkalj), so that’s what I look to do,” said Karsten Beney. “The plan was to get it to me a bit more in the second half and I’m just glad a few went in for me.”
The game was far from a thing of beauty as a playoff-like atmosphere and a rugged brand of play led to a number of turnovers and poor shooting decisions by both teams. Karsten Beney chalked it up to nerves, with both teams not being used to such a high-energy game this early in the season.
While happy with the win, Karsten Beney said his team had learned a valuable lesson by building a 10-point lead in the first quarter and letting the defending champs claw their way back.
“When we are up like we were, we have to take care of the ball and start pulling away and not let the other team back into the game,” he said.
Edem Ame led the Highlanders with 14 points while Kwame Botchway added 13. Big man Jake Robinet was held to eight points before fouling out on a marginal call with more than seven minutes to play in the game.
Still, the Highlanders refused to quit with their top player gone and even managed to go up by one when Usman Khalid scored to put SJAM up 46-45.
Cvrkalj stormed back down the court and scored a layup to put the Knights back on top at 47--46, a lead they would never relinquish. Cvrkalj added four more points from the free-throw line before SJAM’s Ben Reyhani nailed a three-pointer at the buzzer to finish the scoring.
“We fought all the way back, got up by one and then we lost track of their best player. I’m not sure how that happens,” said SJAM coach Steve Maloney.
“It was a little bit sloppy by both teams, but I think they created a lot of intensity with their defence and they forced us into some of that stuff. I’ve got to give them full credit.”
The WCI Vikings are the only other undefeated team at 4-0 after a 63-50 win over the Grand River Renegades. WCI and Bluevale will play in the first game back from the Christmas break.
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