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JERREY ROBERTS

Mat Sulda of Smith Academy, center, moves the ball between Hopkins Academy defenders Chris Koch, left, and Tyler Szymkowicz on Monday in Hatfield. Smith won 70-34.

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JERREY ROBERTS

David Longstreeth of Smith Academy, right, shoots while defended by Drew Bemben of Hopkins Academy on Monday in Hatfield. Smith won 70-34.

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JERREY ROBERTS

Keith Natale of Smith Academy, top, grabs a rebound against Drew Bemben of Hopkins Academy on Monday in Hatfield. Andrew Omer of Hopkins, left, and Seaver Rickert of Smith are in front of the action. Smith won 70-34.

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JERREY ROBERTS

Mat Sulda of Smith Academy, center, shoots between Hopkins Academy defenders Satchel Teixeira, left, and Tim Knightly on Monday in Hatfield. Smith won 70-34.

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JERREY ROBERTS

Seaver Rickert of Smith Academy, top, shoots while defended by Drew Bemben of Hopkins Academy on Monday in Hatfield. Andrew Omer of Hopkins, left, and Keith Natale of Smith watch the play. Smith won 70-34.

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Michael Molloy of Smith Academy, left, drives to the basket and draws a foul from Chris Koch of Hopkins Academy on Monday in Hatfield. Smith won 70-34.

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Steven Golonka of Smith Academy, center, comes down with a rebound between Hopkins Academy defenders Adam Damiere and Tyler Szymkowicz on Monday in Hatfield. Smith won 70-34.

HATFIELD - The Smith Academy boys basketball clinched a berth in the postseason Monday night with a 70-34 victory against rival Hopkins Academy.

The Falcons (10-3, 9-2 Hampshire West) continued to grow as a team, as two years ago it took them until the last game of the season to clinch a western Massachusetts tournament berth. It also took just a bit longer last season in which they needed 15 games to clinch.

"These guys have improved a lot, and they are willing to learn," Smith Academy coach Matt Zerneri said.

The Golden Hawks (0-13, 0-11 Hampshire West) continued to struggle this season.

"My kids played hard, I can never not give them that," first-year Hopkins Academy coach Tom Bell said. "We're still struggling right now trying to put everything together."

Hopkins kept up with Smith early as Andrew Bemben's 10 first-half points kept the Golden Hawks in the game. Bemben, who finished with 19 points, knocked down back-to-back 3-pointers to start an 8-0 run for Hopkins cutting Smith's lead early in the second to 18-12. The Golden Hawks entered the half trailing 29-21.

The second half had a big change of tempo though as Smith outscored Hopkins 25-9 in the third quarter, capped by David Longstreeth's 3-pointer at the buzzer that made it 54-30. Longstreeth finished with nine points. Smith Academy then held Hopkins to only four points in the fourth.

The buzzer-beater "gave us a little momentum. They're kids and they like to cheer about anything," Zerneri said. "To get them motivated, there is nothing like a buzzer beater."

Mat Sulda led the Falcons with 17 points.

"Coach said there's going to be an open man if they double," said Sulda, who averaged 20.4 points entering the game. "We swung it and got it out into the open court, which is our best offense by getting fast-break layups."

Zerneri was pleased with his entire roster's contributions as 10 players scored.

"Sulda is obviously our go-to guy on the offensive end, but when we run we can have four or five guys put up double digits every game and that's when we're most dangerous," Zerneri said. "He can open up the game for everybody else."

Sophomore point guard Derek McMahon helped spark the Falcons' fast break with five steals to go with his 14 points.

"I really give him the freedom that if he sees something to go out and grab it," Zerneri said. "His steals start his offense, being a point guard, always having the ball is a good thing."

Keith Natale scored 12 points in the win.

Both teams play Thursday as Hopkins will take on division rival Frontier Regional at 7:30 p.m. in Hadley, and Smith Academy will be at Greenfield at 7:30.