Mounties Struggle in Loss to Crusaders
WILLIAMSTOWN, Mass — In a season full of good nights, the Mount Greylock boys' basketball team experienced a rare bad one against Saint Joseph's on Monday, losing 59-43 at home to fall to 14-5 on the season.The Mounties put up their third fewest point total of the season and lost by double digits for just the second time all year against the Crusaders, who improved their final record to 15-5 and clinched at least a share of the South Division title. St. Joe's in now 10-3 in league play, while Greylock falls to 7-5 with one more game left against Lee on Wednesday night.
Bob Thistle's club got off to a nice start, leading 15-13 after the first quarter of play. The Mounties' offense slowed down in the second quarter, however, and scored just six points on their way to a four-point deficit at halftime. The Crusaders really got things going in the third quarter, outscoring the hosts 11-3 over the final three minutes of the frame. That put Greylock in a 16-point hole heading into the fourth quarter, which ended up being the difference in the final score of the game.
St. Joe's did a real nice job of defending the 3-point line, holding the typically long-shooting Mounties to just four triples on the night. Senior Avery Cunningham (3 of 6) still managed to knock down three treys, but Hank Barrett and Tyrell Thomas, who are second and third on the team in 3-pointers made this year, were held without a single three all night. Thomas did manage to score 14 points with eight rebounds and five assists but shot only 25 percent from the field. Junior center Tyler Picard also chipped in with 13 points and nine boards for Greylock.
The Crusaders' Lavante Wiggins led all scorers with 17 points, while Tank Roberson notched 14 points and four assists, leaving him one point shy of breaking the 1,000-point mark for his career. Mike McMahon also had a solid night for St. Joe's, finishing with 10 points and 10 rebounds.
The Mounties welcome the Wildcats to Williamstown for a 7 p.m. game on Wednesday.