The Somerset Mortgage "Heat" (47) and the Robin Hood Country Day School "Pistons" (44) faced off for the fifth-grade champion game this past Sunday at the Jericho High School gym. The teams faced each other two times before with a split in the series; the loss was the only one for the Heat all season and it came in the first game. From there the Heat went on a 10-game winning streak culminating with a championship win!

Both teams were evenly matched with the strong point guard play of Corey Miller (Pistons) and Roy Ninron for the Heat. At one point the Heat had a 15-point lead going into the sixth period. The Pistons fought back with timely scoring from Jonathan Delman, David Resnick and Corey Miller. The defense of Bennett Felder, Peter Schiff and Matthew Roberts all helped to cut into the lead.

The Heat wouldn't buckle under from the pressure. Having played several close games during a 10-game win streak, the boys were ready for the challenge. The Heat responded with timely scoring of their own from a balanced attack: Roy Ninron with 20 points and six rebounds; Marshall Surowiec with nine points and seven rebounds; Cole Chartash with six points and five rebounds; Drew Chartash with five points and three rebounds; Glenn Hyams with four points and four rebounds; and Adam Birns with four points and six rebounds.

Like any great game, in the end it was decided from the foul line. Roy Ninron, Adam Birns and Marshall Surowiec when fouled went to the line for the Heat and helped extend the lead to four points, which had shrunk to two in the eighth and final period.

In the end all the boys that played on both teams deserve a big hand for putting on such an excellent game for all of those who attended.