The Brewster Bears defeated Liberty Bell High School in the both boys’ and girls’ first round of District 6 tournament action over the weekend, which brought a close to the 2021-22 season for the Mountain Lions.
The girls fell to the Bears on Friday, 64-39, and the boys dropped their game the following night, 77-32.
For the boys, Morgan Spellman and Remi Paz led a balanced scorebook for the seventh-seeded Mountain Lions, each scoring 7 points. Kyler Mitchell hit for 6 points with Bodi Thomson, Jackson Schmekel and Lucien Paz each adding 4 points.
Liberty Bell began the game strong, matching the older, bigger and sharp-shooting Bears point-for-point, ending the first 8 minutes down only 17-13.
Mitchell led the visitors with all 6 of his points in the first quarter. Brewster then ramped up the defense and shut the door on the Lions, holding them to 3, 6 and 10 points in the last three quarters.
Coach Ryan Surface was pleased with the effort, hustle and personality of the team. “I’m super proud of the guys for the character they showed in finishing out the season the way that they did,” the coach said. “You couldn’t ask any more of them as individuals or as a team.”
That character did not go unnoticed, either, reported Surface. “A Brewster staff member almost pulled my right arm off when shaking hands after the game,” Surface said. “He told me that, ‘I’m inspired when watching your guys play. They didn’t take a possession off the entire game.’”
Surface also noted that all-league honors were released Monday, with freshman Lucien Paz and sophomore Kyler Mitchell tabbed with honorable mention on this year’s list.
On the girls’ side of the District 6 post season, senior Jadyn Mitchell closed out her Mountain Lion career with one last double-double, scoring 19 points and grabbing 11 rebounds in the loss to Brewster. She also stole the ball 5 times and contributed a pair of assists. Seniors Joslyn Rispone and Shae Taylor had solid games rebounding and setting teammates up with scoring opportunities, combining for 8 assists and 10 rebounds Junior Ruby McCarthy contributed 7 points and eighth-grader Helaina Remsburg added 6 to the effort.
Coach Stephanie Mitchell was impressed with the playoff atmosphere. “This game was everything that district basketball should be,” she said. “The stands were packed, the student sections were loud and having fun.”
Waxing philosophical, the coach continued, “We didn’t win the game but if it had to be the last game of the season, it was a great way for the girls to end their season and, for the seniors, their high school careers. They played to the best of their abilities and I am very proud of them for that. They never gave up and worked hard till the very end.”
Season honors were also announced on Monday for the girls. Mitchell was named to the all-league first team for the fourth time in four years. Taylor was named honorable mention.
Mitchell averaged double figures in points (18) and rebounds (12) per game in her senior season, while tallying 16 points per game and 12 rebounds per game over her career.
