Team Mirabito Energy lost to Team Burger King 103-83 in Thursday’s Stars and Stripes Classic game at Davis College. Unadilla Valley junior David DuFresne had 16 points for Team Mirabito Energy in the first of two games scheduled for them in the annual tournament. The teams are selected by the league’s officials and are separated by region. The next game for Team Mirabito Energy is Thursday at 6:00 pm at Davis College.

Team Burger King opened up hot, scoring seven unanswered points to start the game. Team Mirabito Energy narrowed the margin to six with 13:06 in the first half, after opening up their scoring with three consecutive three-pointers. With 11:30 in the half, Oneonta’s Albert Odero displayed a flashy dribble drive and finish to make the score 25-18. Norwich’s Storm Cook lurked around the perimeter and launched four three pointers in the first half, sinking one. Fellow Tornado, Michael Sutton scored the final points of the period, two of his four, and the score was 60-38, Burger King, at the half.

Team Mirabito Energy head coach Matt Osborne told his team before the game “to push the ball up the court and spread it around.” The idea was to make the other team work hard on defense but the local squad gave up a lot of size and struggled against the fast pace of Team Burger King.