HAMPDEN – Hampden Academy got its fill of Brewer’s Brian Colman when he lit it up for 32 points last week.

Even though the Broncos won that game, they weren’t about to let him have it so easy this time around. Hampden implemented a versatile 1-2-2 defense here Tuesday night, limiting Colman to two points while setting the tone for a 56-46 Big East Conference basketball victory over the Witches.

Hampden’s chameleon defense accomplished its task, clamping down on Colman and forcing Brewer to find another go-to player. None emerged.

Junior forward Reid Harris played a key role in the Broncos’ defensive effort, covering Colman man-to-man much of the night. Hampden’s alignment, which often acted as a box-and-one, sometimes played like a 2-3 and other times appeared like a 1-2-2.

“We had to shut Colman down. That was our key in the game,” said HA’s Craig McBean. “Reid (Harris) was playing man-to-man on Colman the whole game, and if Colman was on the wing Reid, or whoever was there if he got screened, would pick him up.”

The Broncos, now 5-4 and winners of four of their last five contests, also exhibited good poise in the last 10 minutes. Hampden began to make its move late in the third quarter leading 32-30.

McBean nailed a 3-pointer to ignite things and Jack Kelly scored a layup off his own steal, but Brewer’s Matt McGrath countered with a short turnaround jumper from the lane. Kelly added two free throws with two seconds left in the quarter to make it 39-32.

Brewer, 3-6, could not get closer than six points in the final eight minutes. The Broncos were able to maintain their advantage thanks in great part to the efforts of three players who came off the bench.

Mark Stillman, David McQuilkin and Jeff Carson played outstanding defense, controlled the boards and played their roles well during crunch time. McBean and Harris did the same while combining for 10 fourth-quarter points to keep Hampden in control.

“I searched most of the game for a combination that was just going to be consistent,” said Broncos Coach Jim DiFrederico. “We did, and that’s why I stuck with them. Things were clicking.”

The Witches got within seven (44-37) with 5:10 to play on Chris Horr’s 16-footer, but two foul shots by Harris and a 3-pointer by McBean all but iced it at 49-37 with 4:25 to play.

“We were much better at executing tonight, running our offe “We were much better at executing tonight, running our offenses,” DiFrederico said. “They didn’t try to force things.”

McBean paced the Hampden Academy offense with a game-high 15 points. Kelly contributed 10 points, four assists and three steals, while Jon Kunz tossed in 10 points.

Stillman was a workhorse underneath and wound up with eight points, eight rebounds and two blocked shots. Harris finished a yeoman all-around performance with six rebounds and four assists.

Roderick and McQuilkin also turned in strong efforts for the winners.

Jared Seavey was the lone double-figure scorer for Brewer with 11 points, nine of which came during the Witches’ second-quarter surge.

Trailing 16-7, Mike Oxley converted on a conventional three-point play, Seavey drove the lane for back-to-back layups and Jayson Reynolds buried a 3-pointer to give the visitors a brief lead.

However, the Broncos answered with a 10-3 run of its own, with McBean scoring four of those points. Hampden led 28-22 at intermission.

Andy Dore and Reynolds (six rebounds) had six points each for the Witches. Colman was afforded only five field-goal attempts.

The Broncos outrebounded the Witches 38-28.

Broncos 56, Witches 46

Hampden Academy Brewer

Name AG G AF F TP Name AG G AF F TP

McBean 13 5 4 3 15 Seavey 6 4 2 2 11

Kelly 7 4 2 2 10 Oxley 6 3 3 3 9

Kunz 11 5 0 0 10 Reynolds 6 2 0 0 6

Stillman 6 3 2 2 8 Dore 6 2 2 1 6

Roderick 3 2 0 0 4 Horr 6 2 0 0 5

Harris 4 0 5 4 4 Thomas 4 1 4 1 4

McQuilkin 4 2 0 0 4 Colman 5 0 2 2 2

Carson 1 0 4 1 1 McGrath 2 1 0 0 2

Leonard 0 0 0 0 0 Billings 4 0 2 1 1

Needham 0 0 0 0 0

Weiser 6 0 0 0 0

Totals 49 21 17 12 56 Totals 51 15 15 10 46

Hampden Academy 12 28 39 56

Brewer 7 22 32 46

Preliminary: Hampden JVs 55, Brewer JVs 53

3-pt. goals: Hampden (2-5): McBean 2-4, Kunz 0-1; Brewer (6-16): Reynolds 2-4, Horr 1-2, Dore 1-4, Thomas 1-1, Seavey 1-1, Colman 0-4