The 2022-2023 Men's and Women's HVIAC Championship kicked-off on Saturday, February 25, 2023 on the Five Towns College Campus.
The first game of the day featured the #2 Seed, Word of Life Bible Institute against the #3 Seed, Berkeley College. A highly anticipated rematch between the two teams in which the Huskies bested the Knights
during the regular season, 44-40.
Today belonged to the Knights, after a close first quarter, Berkeley College would take a 10 point lead into the half, 45-35.
The second half of play was controlled by the Knights, although, the Huskies managed to close the gap with a 22 point third quarter, 68-57 Berkeley College at the start of the final quarter.
The Knights continued their dominance scoring 24 points while allowing the Huskies only 10 points over 10 minutes of play.
Amal (Cammy) Mahmoud paced the Knights with a double-double, 50 points, 18 rebounds. Zanya Henderson had a double-double of her own, 13 points, 10 rebounds, and Beulah Dixon Blake rounded off t
the game with 15 points.
The Huskies high scorers, Kayli Hayden with 24 points, and MJ Buck with 21 points.
Berkeley College will face #1 Seed, Villa Maria College, who received a Semi-Final Bye, for the Conference Championship tomorrow at 1:00 pm.
The second part of the day, scheduled both Men's Basketball Semi-Finals. #1 Seed, Berkeley College squared off against #4 Seed, SUNY ESF. The match-up between the two institutions have been closely
contested during several previous Semi-Finals and 3 points separated the two dung the 2022-2023 regular season. It was Berkeley College's game today from wire-to-wire, the Knights controlled the game.
In the opening minutes the Mighty Oaks kept the game within striking distance not allowing the Knights to take a double digit lead. However, Berkeley College managed to turn the corner taking a 30 point lead
into the half, 53-23.
The scoring continued for the Knights in the second half of play, as Berkeley College added 51 points while holding the Mighty Oaks to 37 points.
Six players for Berkeley College scored in double figures, Julio Wallace (17 points), Rashid Abdullin (15 points), Marc Combs (14 points), Jihadu Brunner (14 points), Malachi Faison (12 points), and
Tahshon Moore (10 points). The Mighty Oaks were lead by, Reid Patchett (15 points).
#1 Seed, Berkeley College will face #2 Seed, Villa Maria College for the Conference Championship, tomorrow at 3:30 pm.
The second Men's Basketball Semi-Final game, and last of the day, saw #2 Seed, Villa Maria College against #4 Seed and tournament host, Five Towns College.
The Sound had lost to the Vikings during the regular season 94-80, and set out to even the score. The first half, as predicted, was closely contested with neither team taking a significant lead. However, the
Vikings held the advantage at the half, 29-22.
The second half proved to be no different than the first, Villa Maria College would hold a lead with Five Towns College in striking distance. The Sound would continue to chip away and with under 3 minutes in the
game, tied the score 54-54.
Five Towns College would take their first lead of the game with 2:45 left on the clock, 55-54, but the Vikings would negate the effort by retaking the lead moments later.
The Sound refused to go away quietly and the game would once again be tied at the 2 minute mark 57-57, however the "Cinderella" story ending did not happen when the clock struck 0, the Vikings with the win
69-59.
In their first season in the HVIAC, Villa Maria College will advance to the Championship Game where they will face #1 Seed, Berkeley College.
The Vikings saw three score in double figures, Jaden Green (14 points), Nolan Shephard (13 points), and Rhalon Bragg (12 points). Five Towns College had three in double figures as well, Jan Filip
Jagielski (16 points), Paul Allen (14 points), and Tyler Bond (10 Points).
All scores and highlights can be found on the conference website www.hviac.net
