Tuesday, February 7, 2012
HATFIELD - The crowd was roaring, the band was playing and one young man was waiting for his chance at a milestone. In the end, he did not have to wait too long to achieve it. Smith Academy's Mat Sulda, needing only eight points to pass the 1,000-point mark for his career, shook off a few misses before draining three consecutive 3-pointers to surpass the mark in the first quarter of the Falcons' 77-50 victory over Athol Monday. Sulda, who scored a career-high 35 points, hit the milestone with 2 minutes, 10 seconds left in the first quarter.
Saturday, February 4, 2012
The Easthampton girls basketball moved into a virtual tie for first place in the Franklin South with a 47-27 win over Frontier Regional, Friday in South Deerfield. Elizabeth Whitney's 15 points and 15 rebounds paced the Eagles (13-3, 10-3 Franklin South), who are one-game back of Hopkins Academy (11-5, 11-3) in the win column.
Tuesday, January 31, 2012
AMHERST - James Sowers' birthday wish came true. The Amherst Regional junior guard played a terrific game as the Hurricanes beat rival Northampton 46-41 Monday night to sweep the season series. "It was a very good birthday present," said Sowers, who turned 17. "I wanted a win against Northampton and we got it." Sowers scored a career-high 15 points for Amherst (7-6, 3-1 Suburban), which was missing second leading scorer Josh Whitaker. While Sowers contributed on the offensive end, it was Amherst's defense that played a major part in the victory.
Saturday, January 28, 2012
Allan Rivera had 20 points, while Jordan Castillo chipped in with 14 and Sam Sharpe added 11 as the Smith Vocational boys basketball team (8-2, 5-2 Tri-County) won 54-50 at Westfield Vocational on Friday. The Vikings pulled within a victory of qualifying for the postseason for the first time since 2006.
Thursday, January 26, 2012
Alyssa Klepacki took another big step Wednesday night toward achieving the career 1,000-point milestone.
The senior scored 25 points and grabbed 24 rebounds to lead the Smith Academy girls basketball team to a 43-23 win over visiting Pioneer Regional.
Klepacki is now at 982 points for her career, and needs 18 to reach the mark at home against Greenfield on Friday night.
Tuesday, January 24, 2012
The Northampton boys basketball team held Longmeadow to 11 points in the final 11 minutes to pull out a 50-45 victory Monday in Northampton.
Tuesday, January 24, 2012
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.
Saturday, January 21, 2012
Jarrod Neumann's double-double helped the Northampton boys basketball team stay on track with a 62-49 win over Sci-Tech on Friday night in Springfield.
Neumann had 23 points and 13 rebounds as the Blue Devils (5-6) won their third straight game.
Jared Murphy added 13 points in the victory, while Ben Christopher had 10.
Saturday, January 21, 2012
CHICOPEE - Rare is the game where, at the conclusion, both teams emerge from the locker room with smiles and laughter, ready to celebrate the night away. But that was the case at Chicopee Academy, where the game belonged to the Granby boys basketball team - who rolled to a 77-56 win over Holyoke Catholic - and the night belonged to Nate Powers. With an impressive layup off a feed by John McCoy seconds into the second half, Powers became the 10th player in Holyoke Catholic history to join the 1,000-point club.
Tuesday, January 17, 2012
The Granby boys basketball team couldn't keep up with St. Joseph's up-tempo offense and fell 66-52 at the Hoophall Classic at Springfield College Monday night.
Corey Baker had 12 points to lead the Rams (6-3). Aaron Gaj added 10 points and 11 rebounds, while Jesse Molin added 10 points.
Granby coach Tim Sheehan was pleased despite the result.
Wednesday, January 11, 2012
Trevor McKenna knocked down a pair of free throws with nine seconds left and Kevin Garbacik added another as South Hadley knocked off Minnechaug 56-54 at home Tuesday.
McKenna went to the line with the score tied 53-53 and made both shots.
Wednesday, January 11, 2012
WESTHAMPTON - With the game on the line, the Granby boys basketball team did not panic. The Rams made all the plays down the stretch to pull out a 59-52 victory over Hampshire Regional Tuesday. The game between Bi-County North rivals was tight. There were 11 lead changes and six ties. Hampshire's largest lead was four points, Granby's was six. It was the fifth time this season the Rams (5-2, 1-1) were involved in a game that was decided by single digits. Granby is 4-1 in those situations.
Saturday, January 7, 2012
Streaks came and went Friday night.
The Easthampton and Hampshire Regional boys basketball teams each snapped two-game losing streaks. Casey White had 22 points as Easthampton beat Pioneer regional 60-52.
Keith Cotnoir's double-double of 19 points and 14 rebounds spurred Hampshire to a 50-38 win over Southwick.
Wednesday, January 4, 2012
The Smith Academy boys basketball team dominated Mohawk Trail in the second half en route to the 73-29 victory in Hatfield Tuesday.
The Falcons outscored the Indians 43-9 in the second half as they improved to 6-1 overall, 5-0 in the Hampshire West.
Wednesday, January 4, 2012
SOUTH DEERFIELD - Defense has always been a staple of the Frontier Regional boys basketball program. Despite a meager offense last season, the Red Hawks rode Division 3's second-ranked defense to the postseason. The offense has improved this year and the defense is just as stingy, making Frontier a dangerous team in the Hampshire League. Easthampton learned first hand Tuesday how dangerous the Red Hawks can be as Frontier jumped out to an early lead and held on for a 55-43 victory.
Saturday, December 31, 2011
NORTHAMPTON - With the game on the line, one of the least likely offensive threats for the Amherst Regional boys basketball team stepped up. Known more for blocking shots and grabbing rebounds above the rim, Tchuijo Nkamebo made two key baskets down the stretch as the Hurricanes held off Northampton 59-55 Friday in the Jill E. Harrington Hanzalik Basketball Classic.
Wednesday, December 28, 2011
WESTHAMPTON - Brian Miller decided to slow down his team's usual track meet and showed off another weapon at his disposal Tuesday night. The Easthampton boys basketball team, which usually plays an up-tempo style, went into its half-court offense in the final five minutes and pulled away to a 60-47 victory. Junior center Chris Starcun (11 points, 11 rebounds) scored five of his team's final seven points and Casey White (22 points, six rebounds) added the other two as Easthampton (5-0) pulled away to end the game.
Thursday, December 22, 2011
NORTHAMPTON - The Jill E. Harrington Hanzalik Basketball Classic has a new home for its second year. The high school basketball event will host four games at Northampton High School on Friday, Dec. 30, and Saturday, Dec. 31. This year, the event is split into two days. The Smith Academy and Easthampton boys square off on Friday at 5 p.m. followed by rivals Northampton and Amherst Regional at 7 p.m. "It's nice. It's an honor to get in there and play in that tournament," said Blue Devils boys coach Rey Harp.
Thursday, December 22, 2011
The Smith Vocational boys basketball tandem of Jordan Castillo and Allan Rivera have been pretty tough to stop lately.
The duo each scored at least 20 points for the second straight game as the Vikings cruised past Mount Everett 65-45, Wednesday in Northampton.
Castillo and Rivera each had 20 points as Smith (3-0) stayed unbeaten.
Wednesday, December 21, 2011
WESTHAMPTON - The Gateway Regional boys basketball team has been an afterthought in the Bi-County League.
The team has been in the lower half of the standings since its last tournament appearance in 2003. Only last season did the 8-12 Gators even have a chance at qualifying.
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