Mount Greylock Boys Top Hoosac in OT Nail-Biter

WILLIAMSTOWN, Mass. -- Eric Hirsch hit a 3-pointer at the end of regulation to force overtime, and Emmett Shepard hit a big 3 in OT to give the Mount Greylock boys basketball team a 61-60 win over Hoosac Valley on Thursday night.

 

At first sight it was hard to tell who would pull ahead in this exciting game, but the Mounties clinched their second win of the year.

 

Shepard continued with the gusto he had on Tuesday against Taconic, scoring 18 points to back up Hirsch's 19.

 

"It was a hard-fought game against a very well coached team," Mount Greylock coach Bob Thistle said. "We were fortunate to persevere in the end."

 

Mount Greylock (2-0) started the year with its second straight win over a Berkshire North opponent. Hoosac Valley (1-1) played its second straight one-point game.

 

The first quarter Thursday ended with Hoosac leading 14-7 and Greylock giving the effort, yet not mustering the kind of points that the Hurricanes' guard Matt Koperniak (game-high 20) and center Jameson Coughlan (19 points) delivered. 

 

From the sidelines, the coaches set the tone for their teams. Mounties head coach Bob Thistle gave calls to set the boys on the court up, “Swing it! Swing it!!” a familiar reminder that had his players working together as a cohesive team. The Mounties put a number of set plays together, only for Hoosac to sweep in and snag the ball. 

 

With two minutes left in the first half, the Hurricanes only led by three, before edging away to end the half at 28-22. Mount Greylock and Hoosac stayed neck-on-neck. 

 

The second half brought more heat to the court and more teamwork from the Mounties. With the direction, “high low, high low,” from their bench, Mount Greylock attempted, almost successfully, a cut-pick-roll sequence that only led to a steal and fast break by the Hurricanes. The third quarter ended with Mount Greylock trailing, 40-33. 

 

By the last quarter, the Mounties upped the pressure and pulled it together. Junior Zach Ronnow saw to the rebounds while Shepard continued to issue convert. Hirsch brought Mount Greylock within reach of the Hurricanes, 46-47, with 2 minutes, 30 seconds left in regulation. With the help of senior Jake Benzinger, the Mounties grabbed the rebounds and kept pace, Shepard snagging a basket off a timeout with 29.7 seconds on the clock.

 

Hirsch hit two 3s in the fourth; Pat Storie and Shepard each had a triple as the Mounties outscored Hoosac, 21-14, in the last eight minutes.

 

With only 8 seconds of the game, Hirsch sent it to overtime.

 

Coughlan scored four in the extra session, and Koperniak converted a pair of free throws.

 

But Mount Greylock got three each from Shepard and Ian Brink and a free throw from Hirsch to make the difference

 

Hoosac Valley travels to Lee on Monday as Mount Greylock hosts Wahconah.