NORTH ADAMS, Mass. – Tensions were high Wednesday night, in Drury's Bucky Bullett Gymnasium where Qwanell Bradley and Frank Field each scored 16 points helping in Hoosac Valley's 58–46 win over the Blue Devils.
Post-game, junior Frank Field discussed Hurricane’s victory, both teams, and getting ready for the tournament.
“Huge win. Always great to beat these guys no matter what, especially at the end of the year. We're both at the top of our games. Awesome atmosphere. Awesome game.” Field said with a smile on his face. “I'm feeling pretty good. You know, we're all coming together. We're all starting to trust each other and play as one. And I think that's the most important thing about winning games in the tournament. You know, you don't need a guy to score 25 a guy to score 30, if you can get 14, 12, 8 and you know, spread the ball around. That's that's how you win it.”
Backing up the 16-point nights from Field and Bradley was Hoosac Valley's Joey McGovern, who scored 15, going 8-for-8 at the foul line in the process.
“We didn’t play great, but you know what? We played well enough to win.” Hurricanes coach Bill Robinson commented. “I thought the key the second half was going to the zone. We had some foul trouble, we didn't
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want to expand it. So we went to the zone to protect the players. And you know, we stopped somewhat [Louis] Guillotte’s drive. So it worked out for us today.”
As for the Blue Devils, Guillotte banked 23 points and hit all 10 of his free throws. Dante Dillard acquired nine points and Sam Mormon eight in Drury’s loss. The team is still searching for a place in the state tournament.
“We were where we wanted to be at halftime, just we didn't play good enough in the [second] half, tip their hat to them," Drury coach Jack Racette said. "They changed defenses. We didn't execute on offense and that's what you get
“I'm not worried about the tournament. I'm worried about how we're playing, we're not playing well. And if we don't play well, we don’t deserve to get in the tournament.”
The Montagues and the Capulets, the Hatfields and the McCoys, Tom and Jerry, the Drury Blue Devils (9-9) and the Hoosac Valley Hurricanes(12–6). Everyone loves a good rivalry story and with these two longtime battling teams you could feel the thickness of it in the air, not just on the court, but in the stands between both student bodies as well.
The two rivals passed the lead back-and-forth the first couple periods with Drury leading their competition before the half 28 to 22. However, the Hurricanes came back and took control of the second half, dominating the paint with continuous drives to the hoop and forcing turnovers.
Veteran Drury coach Racette reflects on the long lasting rivals.
"For anybody who's been around it's the best rivalry in Berkshire county, I think," he said. “I mean, kids know you know? That it's gonna be a great atmosphere. It was a great atmosphere and you know, we just didn't get the results we wanted.”
Drury plays its third home game in a row on Thursday against Hopkins. After five games on the road, Hoosac Valley returns home to face Baystate also on Thursday. The Hurricanes have already secured a spot in the State Tournament.
