Rodriguez, Moorer Lead Pittsfield Boys Past Hopkins Academy

PITTSFIELD, Mass. -- Edwin Rodriguez went 7-for-8 at the foul line in the fourth quarter and scored 19 points to lead the Pittsfield boys basketball team to a 64-

 

The Generals held Hopkins to just four points in the first quarter and had a 31-17 lead at half-time.

 

“Hopkins (15-2) came out and in the early frames was bothered by our man pressure,” Pittsfield coach Brandon Mauer said. “We put them in a tough spot and my guys did great moving the ball and working it around.”

 

In the fourth quarter, the Generals withstood a 28-point onslaught from Hopkins Academy in a period that saw the teams combine for 32 free throws.

 

Pittsfield went 13-for-18 as a team at the line in the fourth.

 

“It was the tale of late game composure by Hopkins that  brought them back,” Mauer said. “There is a reason why they are 15-2. They are well coached and they are poised. They came back late and it came down to free throws. My team lost its composure with late game turnovers but got it together from the foul line.

 

“Sincere Moorer played a great game all around and has shown a ton of growth all season as a freshman and today was a breakout game for him down the stretch. Great win against a tough team.”

 

Moorer was 5-for-6 at the stripe on his way to a 17-point night.

 

Joe Cracolici added eight, and Donte Cruz and Kymani Harley each scored six in the win. Mauer credited Cruz for his defense on Hopkins’ Jon Morrison (19 points) and the combination of Rodriguez and Harley for helping limit the damage from John Earle (19 points), who had just four at half-time.

 

Pittsfield (6-7) goes to Drury on Friday night.