PITTSFIELD, Mass. -- The Taconic boys basketball team outscored Drury, 23-8, in the fourth quarter, to take the 71-52 win on their home court on Tuesday evening.
Taconic took the lead, 18-15, in the first quarter, but the Blue Devils came out in the second and pushed the ball down low and they were able to put up some baskets. They also found themselves at the line when they got into the bonus with 3 minutes, 15 left in the half.
Senior Nick Trombley gave Drury its first lead of the game, 30-29, with 1:42 remaining in the half after being sent to the line, but Taconic quickly took it back putting up two baskets. Sophomore Hayden Bird was able to tie it at 33 to end the half with a shot at the buzzer.
“What we talked about first was coming out with a lot of energy and doing a better job of not fouling,” Taconic coach Bill Heaphy said. "We fouled a lot in the first half, and a lot of that was not being set defensively.”
“We wanted to be in a set position, no matter what defense we were in and not foul and then rebound and go.”
Taconic pushed the ball in the third quarter and at one point it had a 10-point lead, but Drury was able to battle back and get their lead within four points to end the quarter 48-44.
“We got some transition baskets,” Heaphy said. “I thought we could do that if we got the rebound and once we got it, we got some open looks.”
Taconic was able to pull away in the fourth quarter creating offense on Drury turnovers. Taconic also was hitting its shots from outside, where the Devils weren’t.
“We have to get healthy, we're in the tournament,” Drury coach Jack Racette said. “We have to really get healthy over the next couple of weeks and continue to get better.”
The Devils were without senior Kirby Bryce and they lost senior Doug Sigsbury after the first quarter due to injury this evening.
“We weren’t better tonight,” Racette said. “It’s not about winning or losing, we didn’t play well tonight.”
Drury’s Hayden Bird finished with 14 points, Cam Lesure had 13, and Trombley had 12. For Taconic, Treyvon Ringgold and Charles Davis each had 15,, and Dante Sandifer had 12.
The Blue Devils head to Wahconah Friday evening for a 7:30 p.m. start and Taconic hosts Mount Greylock Friday.
