CHESHIRE, Mass. -  Frank Field knocked down a step back 3-pointer Monday to give the Hoosac Valley boys basketball team a 55-52 win over Wahconah. 

 

It was Field's night, and what better way to cap it off with a game-winning shot with no time left on the clock. Frank finished with a team-high 18 points and the Hurricanes needed all of them to secure the win. Carson Meczywor chipped in with 12 points and Shaun Kastner added 10. 

 

It was a classic Hoosac (9-4) vs Wahconah (10-5) matchup, tough defense and high entertainment. Neither team led by more than five points throughout the whole game and once again came down to the final possession. Hoosac’s defense was working early not only with pressure but with good movement and the ability to step in front of players driving to the hoop. They recorded three charges in the first half alone and it helped keep them in the game when things weren’t going right on offense. 

 

“It stopped them from going into the lane hard, Those charges were key and if we didn’t do that they would have had the lane all night long.” Hoosac coach Bill Robinson said. 

 

Despite the great defense, Wahconah was still able to get the offense going through Jesse Chapman who had 11 of his 15 points in the first half. The contribution was needed due to Brody Calvert picking up two early fouls and sitting most of the second quarter. Pat Mclaughlin had the team-high with 19 points and that carried Wahconah to a 27-23 lead at the break. 

 

Hoosac turned things around in the second half with good ball movement and some strong attacks at the rim. They were able to outscore Wahconah 17-9 to take a four-point edge into the fourth quarter.

 

“I told our guys yesterday in practice, I thought the ball had to get to the high post in order for us to win,” Robinson said. “If we could get the ball at the high post and either hit some shots there or get some drives to kick out threes and we started doing that in the second half.” 

 

In the fourth quarter, the teams went back and forth trading leads over and over. After being tied at 50 apiece it was Meczywor who broke the deadlock with two free throws with less than 2 minutes to go in the game.

 

Calvert answered back with under 30 seconds left in the game with a nice shot in the lane to tie it back up. Then it came down to Hoosac Valley needing someone to make a play and steal the win. That someone was Field, who caught the ball in the corner and dribbled out of pressure just to hit a step back 3 to lift Hoosac to the win. The two teams split the series this year with Wahconah winning the first game at home earlier in the year. 

 

Both teams will now look to focus their attention on Easthampton as Hoosac will play the Eagles on Wednesday and Wahconah on Friday.