12.31.05

By BRYAN CLARK

Sports Editor

LIBERTY TOWNSHIP, Ohio (AP) – The first annual Quad One Braggin’ Rights game went just as many would have expected. Trash was talked, blood was shed and Team Bryamy came out on top.

Team Bryamy, led by point guard Jeremy Bridgman and inside presence Bryan Clark, swept the three-game series, winning 15-5 and 15-8 over Team Torraveris in two games. Although this was the first official meeting between the teams, they have a storied rivalry dating back to 2000. Official stats have not been kept over the years, but it is believed that Bridgman and Clark have never lost to Lee Delaveris and Dustin Torres.

“We just had to come out today and execute our game plan,” Bridgman said. “It has worked every other time we played, so there was no reason to think it wouldn’t work today.”

As usual, neither side escaped without injury. Delaveris took the brunt of the punishment, having to leave the second game trailing 7-1 after spraining his ankle. Clark and Torres took spills on the pavement that left them bruised and battered, but both returned. Only Bridgman escaped unscathed.

“When you step out on the court at the Delaveris Dome, you know it’s going to be a battle. I’m just glad I got out alive,” said Clark, who has suffered a variety of injuries in previous games.

Delaveris agreed as he writhed by the court in pain.

“Ahhhhhhhhh… Sssssssss... Ahhhhhhhhhhh… Ssssssssssss... ahhhhhhhh... ssssssssssss,” he said.

But when the dust had settled, the day belonged to Team Bryamy. The duo lit up Team Torraveris, dominating both games from start to finish in front of a record crowd of three at the arena.

“We just own them,” Bridgman said. “I’d like to say it was a hard-fought game, but it wasn’t. Never has been.”

Despite his injury, Delaveris refused to take that insult lying down.

“Your mother and I had a hard-fought game last night,” said Delaveris, attempting to chase Bridgman on one leg.

The glimmer of hope for Team Torraveris came after Delaveris went down and was replaced by his brother Tom. Although Bridgman and Clark did pull out the win, they only outscored their opponents 8-7 with Tom in the game.

“I was amazed,” Torres said. “Seriously, this kid can play. We might need to look at moving him into the starting line-up in the future. As it stands, he’s definitely the best third man in the league.”

The games were ugly for both teams at times, but there were several highlight-reel plays on both sides of the ball. Clark and Bridgman scored most of their points through the classic give-and-go, while Torres shot the ball well from the perimeter. As always, Delaveris stood strong in the paint, rejecting several shots and grabbing key rebounds. In game two, the rims were lowered to eight feet, leading to huge dunks all around.

Still, the play of the day went to Clark. Guarded by Delaveris, who was wearing a stocking cap to fight the cold, Clark dribbled quickly between his legs before grabbing the cap and pulling it over Delaveris’ eyes. Clark then drove past him on the right and dished the ball to Bridgman for the easy lay-up.

“Oh baby, that was sweet,” said Clark, adding that he learned that move watching the And One mix tape tour on ESPN 8, The Ocho.

Team doctor Dan McFarlane said it is too soon to assess the impact of the day's injuries.  The next match-up is scheduled for sometime next year.