The Bellport Clippers traveled to Half Hollow Hills East on Jan. 5 and upset the defending county champions, 52-49.
Julian Croke scored 28 points (12 in the first half) and pulled down six rebounds to lead the Clippers. Bellport improved to 6-3 (3-2 in League III) under new head coach, Rich Brown.
Amari Trent had 11 points for Bellport, and Elie Malcom and Carmelo Flippen each added six points. It was the Clippers’ first road win of the season.
Bellport’s defense was again outstanding. The Clippers have held opponents to under 50 points in each of the team’s six wins.
“That’s what we are,” Brown said. “We’re a defensive team. We believe defense wins championships. As long as we hang our hat on defense, we’ll be in every game.”
After ending the third quarter on a 9-5 run, Bellport entered the fourth quarter with a 45-41 lead.
Neither team scored for the first 4:35 of the final quarter, until Hills East scored to pull within two at 45-43. Croke then drove to the basket for a two-pointer, was fouled, and converted the free throw to put the Clippers ahead, 48-43. Hills East got within a point of the Clippers at 48-47 with 1:20 left, but Bellport was able to hold off the Redhawks to seal the win.
It was a close game throughout. The teams were tied at 14 after the first quarter and 26 at halftime.
“They’re a good team,” Croke said of Hills East. “I just think we came out with more energy and played harder than them.”
The two teams meet again on Jan. 26 at Bellport.
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