Racette, McCann Boys Win on the Road in Dramatic Fashion

SPRINGFIELD, Mass. -- Collin Racette hit a 3-pointer with 40 seconds left to cap a 17-0 run, and give the McCann Tech Hornets their first lead of the game ont he way to a 59-56 win over Pioneer Valley Christian on Friday night.

 

Trailing by 14 early in the fourth quarter, Hornets coach Mike Nykorchuck made a big gamble, but his faith in his team was richly rewarded.

 

"During that timeout [with 6 minutes, 30 seconds left], we switched to full court man-to-man, and we told our players that we had to dig in now," Nykorchuck said. "Our goal was to cut the lead to six points with four minutes left. The score was 54-48 at the four-minute mark.

 

"I was hesitant to play man because we have not played it well this year, but tonight it turned the game around. Shane Fuller held Genesis Arias, the leading scorer in Western Mass, scoreless in the fourth quarter."

 

Arias scored 21 points over the first three quarters against McCann's box-and-one defense.

 

Fuller led the Hornets (12-3 Tri-County, 12-7 overall) with 27 points and five assists. Freshman Cristen Montoya scored all nine of his points in the second half while grabbing seven rebounds. Montoya went 4-of-5 at the line down the stretch.

 

"He is starting to get comfortable plyaing varsity minutes and gives us a nice scoring punch off the bench," Nykorchuck said.

Kyle Parada blocked six shots while scoring eight points and grabbing eight rebounds.

 

"Our guys really impressed me in the way they turned this game around," Nykorchuck said. "I think it shows how we have matured as a team. Earlier in the season, they got down on themselves if we weren't playing good. We have talked a lot about having a positive attitude, win or lose, and with only a positive attitude good things will happen.

 

"That proved to be true tonight."

 

McCann finishes the regular season on Monday at home against Smith Voc.