Big Games Ahead for Athletes of the Week
It is Rivalry Week of the iBerkshires.com/Southwestern Vermont Health Care Athletes of the Week.
Seniors Emma Meczywor of Hoosac Valley and Kyle McGrath of Taconic each have a week of marquee matchups against Berkshire County rivals on tap over the next few days.
It always is a big deal when Taconic plays city rival Pittsfield in any sport. In boys basketball, the feud is as intense as anywhere.
Monday night at the Boys and Girls Club, McGrath's Thunder will take on the Generals in a 7 p.m. varsity tipoff.
Pittsfield will no doubt make McGrath a focal point on defense.
He is averaging a team-high 19 points per game in six outings for 5-1 Taconic.
Last week, he scored 20 in a 46-42 win over Amherst to end the 2024 calendar year and started 2025 with a 10-point night in a blowout win at West Springfield.
McGrath averaged 9.9 ppg as a junior for a Taconic program that will be looking to avenge a five-point loss to Pittsfield in the Western Massachusetts Clss B semi-finals.
Taconic went 1-2 against its city rivals in 2023-24, when it ended up advancing to the Division 3 State Semi-Finals.
The Thunder continues its rivalry tour on Wednesday when it hosts another familiar Suburban North Division foe: Wahconah.
Meczywor and the Hurricanes start their week at home on Tuesday against Suburban Division foe Wahconah, a long-time rival that split the season series with the Hurricanes last year, one of just three setbacks in Hoosac Valley's march to the Division 5 State Championship.
On Thursday, Hoosac Valley (currently 5-0) hosts Pittsfield (5-0) in what could be a battle of unbeatens and figures to be one of the biggest games in the county this winter.
The Hurricanes have a balanced scoring attack with three players in double figures this season.
Meczywor is on that short list with 13 points per game. She rang in the new year with 24 points on Friday night in a road win at Hampshire Regional.
Last year as a junior, Meczywor averaged 11 points per game.
The iBerkshires.com Athlete of the Week is sponsored by Southwestern Vermont Health Care.