Hornets' Offense Struggles in Loss to Lenox
NORTH ADAMS, Mass. -- Trying to establish an offense by the second game of the season is tough enough. Trying to establish one against the defending Division 3 Western Mass. champs is even harder.The McCann Tech boys' basketball team found that lesson to be true on Monday night, when it only scored 15 points in the first half on its way to a 59-36 home loss to Lenox. The Millionaires' used a 1-3-1 defense that contained the Hornets' offense and allowed them to build a 19-point lead at the half. Andrew Vickery poured in a game-high 19 points for Lenox (2-1), while teammate Chris Bravo chipped in with 13.
"We're still struggling to find our rhythm offensively," McCann head coach Justin Kratz said. "We did a better job of limiting the turnovers, but I think we settled for some shots and struggled to make others. Lenox played tough defense. They ran a 1-3-1 that we panicked against a bit in the first half.
"Overall, we just have to get comfortable enough with our offenses that we can see all the options out of them. Right now, we just don't know our plays well enough that they are second nature, and we can look for all the options. It will come with time."
Kratz was pleased with the play of junior guard Chad Raimer, who banged a pair of threes on his way to eight points. Senior Nate Gutmann led the Hornets with 10 points and four assists, while classmate Brandon Czarnecki hustled his way to six points and five rebounds.
McCann gets another shot at the Millionaires in their next game. The rematch will take place next Tuesday in Lenox at 7 p.m.