'Canes Sweep Lenox to Clinch South Title

LENOX, Mass. -- It's been a two-team race all season long for the South Division title. On Monday, the Hoosac Valley girls' basketball team made sure it was the only team left standing in the winners' circle by picking up a 53-44 road win over Lenox. 

The Hurricanes used a late 9-2 run to sweep the season series against the Millionaires, giving Hoosac an overall record of 15-5 and a perfect 8-0 mark in South Division play. Lenox (12-8, 6-2) had a chance to earn a share of the division crown, but a late run by the visitors robbed the Millionaires of their second South title in as many years. 

With the game tied at 42 points apiece, junior Jenn Gale (14 points on four 3-pointers) hit a three to spark the 'Canes' 9-2 run to end the game. Hoosac then went 5 of 6 from the free-throw line, while senior Tori Rumbolt added another key basket to seal the victory for the visitors. Sophomore center Emily Rosse had a huge game for the Hurricanes, scoring a season-high 26 points to go along with a game-high 11 rebounds. 

Lenox led 9-7 after the first quarter, but a 22-point outburst in the second quarter gave Hoosac a six-point lead at halftime. The Millionaires came back strong in the third quarter, trimming the visitors' lead to just two points heading into the fourth. Hayden Zinchuk led the way for Lenox with 14 points, while Liz Mitts chipped in with 11. 

Both teams will be headed to the postseason and will now wait for their respective seeds in the upcoming Western Mass. tournaments. The Hurricanes will compete in the Division 2 bracket, while Lenox will try to make another run in Division 3, where they advanced all the way to last year's title game.