NORTH ADAMS, Mass. -- Adam Rodriguez scored nine points to lead the McCann Tech boys basketball team to a 47-29 win over Smith Vocational Tuesday night.

 

Rodriguez did most of his damage in the third quarter, scoring seven of the team's 18 third-quarter points to help open up a 22-point lead, 37-15, heading into the fourth.

 

“The key thing is to actually run the offense,” said assistant coach Jimmy Sweet, who picked up his first varsity win while filling in for head coach Luis Carmona. “If you want to put points on the board you got to run your offense, play as a team and work together. I thought in the first half our communication was a little off and we settled for shots not in the flow of the offense.”

 

For McCann Tech (8-7) Collin Racette added nine points on three 3-pointers and Dante Cellana and Ethan Sheldon each chipped in with six points apiece to help lead a balanced Hornet attack.

 

For Smith Voc (2-13), Kevin Wackerbarth, Drew Brida and Travis Wolf each scored six points. The loss was the 13th loss in a row for the Vikings after opening the year 2-0.

 

Both teams found it hard to score against each other’s zone defense as the Hornets headed into the locker room at halftime with a 19-12 lead. Coming out of the locker room was a different story as the Hornets found their offense and almost doubled their 1st half output by outscoring the Vikings 18-3 in the third quarter. They capped the quarter when Sheldon drove the lane and laid the ball off the glass, with just 1.7 seconds left, for two of his six third-quarter points. The basket gave McCann a 37-15 lead heading into the fourth and provided all the offense the team needed to pick up a much needed win.

 

Both teams have a short turnaround and play Wednesday night. McCann Tech welcomes St. Mary’s and Smith Voc will head home to host Pathfinder.