Lenox Boys Hold Off Drury Rally

LENOX, Mass. -- The Drury boys basketball team battled all the way back from a 33-22 at half-time deficit to take a lead on Lenox on Friday night, but the Millionaires were able to pull out a 65-62 win.

 

With a little more than two minutes passed in the fourth quarter, Drury senior Doug Sigsbury drove to the hoop for a layup and drew the foul, bringing the Blue Devils (8-2) within in two points. On the other end, the Devils got a stop then pushed the ball up the floor to sophomore Hayden Bird, who sank a 3-pointer, giving them their first lead of the game, 47-46.

 

“They always give 100 percent,” Lenox coach Scott Sibley said. “Unfortunately for them in the first half some of their shots weren’t dropping, so we knew they would make a run and turn it into a ball game, which they did.”

 

In the final 1:21 of the game, Lenox pulled away from Drury, taking a 10-point lead, but Drury was able to put up a few quick baskets and get a few stops on defense to bring them back within a point. With :26.3 on the clock, Bird put one up from 3-point range to make it 63-62.

 

“I told them to play with some heart,” Drury coach Jack Racette said. “You know we’re on the road and it’s tough to win on the road and we just didn’t get the break tonight.”

 

Although Drury gave up one final basket in the last 26 seconds, they were able to fight back from their defensive struggle in the first half.  That motto of Coach Racette’s “play with some heart” is one that is very consistent with the Blue Devils team and it’s one that always prevails, despite Friday’s loss.

 

Lenox ran the court in the first half, which is where it ultimately beat Drury in those first 16 minutes, pushing the ball down low and getting those quick baskets.

 

“We needed to defend better,” Racette said. “We didn’t defend at all. We have tired legs it’s our third game this week.”

 

“We didn’t defend as well as we can, and I think that was the difference, in the first half, especially.”

 

Fortunately for Lenox in those final 26 seconds, they were able to hold their composure and create a Drury turnover, which led to their last basket of the game putting the score at 65-62.

 

“We had to step it up and face a little bit of adversity,” Sibley said. “I’m glad we were able to overcome it; when we got down I was glad to see the kids keep their heads up and come out and find a way to win.”

 

Bird finished the game with 17 points for Drury, Nick Trombley had 13, Kareen Beckett had 11, and both Justin Girard and Sigsbury had 9.

 

For Lenox, Evan Lanoue had a game high of 23, Bailey Patella and Mike Hedges had 12, and Ben Herrick had 11.

 

Drury travels to Frontier Monday evening, and Lenox hosts St. Joe on Tuesday.