Kirtland used a 42-point second half to down visiting Berkshire on Friday, 68-38.
The Hornets, who improved to 5-0 overall and 4-0 in the Chagrin Valley Conference Valley Division, led 26-22 at halftime before breaking the game open in the third quarter.
“We came out at halftime and the seniors decided to make a statement,” Kirtland coach Shawn McGregor said. “They went out and competed, picked up the pressure and changed the course of the game.”
Adam Mueller led the way in the third quarter as he scored all six of his points in the frame. Zach Samsa, who finished with nine points, added five points and Dawson Cosgrove and Luke Camino both hit 3-pointers during the run.
Camino led the Hornets with a game-high 11 points.
“My teammates did a great job of swinging the ball and keeping the ball moving in order to allow me to get a few open looks from the outside,” said Camino, who drained three 3-pointers in the game. “We started off real slow in the first half and just didn’t really come ready to play. Coach lit a fire in us at halftime and made sure that we didn’t come out in the second half slowly like we did in the first.”
Levi Sell scored nine of his 11 points in the first half to keep the Badgers in the game but the Hornets limited Berkshire to just 16 second-half points.
Meanwhile, 11 Hornets worked their way into the scorebook.
Seann McGill added 10 points, Jack Bailey finished with eight, Cosgrove closed out the game with seven, Domenic Capretta and Andrew DeMarco contributed with six each and Jonathan Ridgeway and Mason Sullivan both scored two. Tommy Powers pitched in with one point.
“We are a team that cares for each other and enjoys the success of others, so to have 11 guys score today is a big success,” McGregor said.
Forrest Kuchling also scored in double figures for Berkshire as he finished with 10 points.
The Hornets, who played their first game on Dec. 18, have won five straight and have a quick turnaround as they host Geneva on Saturday.
“I think as a group we are very confident and feel that we can compete with anyone,” Camino said. “However, we know that we still have a lot of work to do in order to get where we want to be. We’ve got to enjoy the win tonight and be ready to play tomorrow against Geneva.”
Berkshire travels to Fairport Harding on Jan. 8.
Kirtland 68, Berkshire 38
Berkshire (0-10, 0-5 CVC Valley): Czekaj 9, Kuchling 10, Sell 11, Sinkenbring 8
Kirtland (5-0, 4-0 CVC Valley): Capretta 6, Mueller 6, Cosgrove 7, Powers 1, Samsa 9, Ridgeway 2, Sullivan 2, Camino 11, McGill 10, DeMarco 6, Bailey 8
Berkshire 11 11 4 12 — 38
Kirtland 13 13 21 21 — 68
Free throws: Berkshire 8 of 12, Kirtland 3 of 11; 3-pointers: Berkshire 4 (Kuchling 2, Czekaj, Sell), Kirtland 5 (Camino 3, Cosgrove, Capretta); Rebounds: Kirtland 43 (McGill 8)
