SPRINGFIELD — The first quarter between the South Hadley and Springfield International boys basketball teams was a back and forth battle, with both defenses playing well. 

The second-seeded Bulldogs began to set the tone after that.

Their stifling defense limited the sixth-seeded Tigers to only two points in the second quarter, and took a 23-10 halftime lead. 

This ultimately was the story of the game as South Hadley never fully recovered in a 54-41 loss in the Western Mass. Class B semifinals on Wednesday night.

“They're a really good team,” South Hadley head coach Chris Gerber said of SICS. “They're long and really athletic and know how to play the ball.”

The Bulldogs’ ability to switch with all their defenders allowed them to constantly trap South Hadley ball handlers. 

Although their offense never really got going in the first half, SICS’ defense allowed it to carry a double digit into halftime. 

In the second half though, the South Hadley offense showed signs of life as it put up 17 points in the third quarter. The Tigers found a way to get to the rim, and created scoring opportunities for their bigs. 

Chase Mathers led the way as he had seven of his 10 points in the third. 

The problem was that SICS started to find its offense, as well, in the second half.

Although it was all Sam Fleming in the first half, other players started to heat up for the hosts as Jay’Len Lovejoy and Ricardo Hilton Jr. combined for nine points in the third after a scoreless first half. 

Hilton Jr. also played a huge role as he made two key blocks at the rim on the defensive end. 

In the fourth, South Hadley was able to play solid defense, and create some outside shots, propelling a potential comeback. The visitors cut the deficit to 37-34 with under five minutes to play, and really looked primed to close on an epic comeback.

As the Bulldogs went small, Colin Quinn's size played a factor for South Hadley as he had seven of his 11 points in the fourth, most of them during this run. 

But just as it had in the second quarter, SICS’ dominant defense returned. The team held the Tigers to one field goal over the final five minutes and shut down the paint.

Fleming, who had a quiet third quarter, began to heat up again down the stretch as he had seven of his 22 points in the final quarter. 

“He’s really special,” Gerber said. “He’s good inside and out. When do both and handles the ball at a high pace he is just a handful.”

South Hadley now turns its attention to next week’s MIAA Division 4 state tournament, while SICS advanced to play top-seeded Taconic in the Class B final on Saturday.

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