Conyers' 20 Points Propel Taconic Past Pittsfield
PITTSFIELD, Mass. -- The Taconic girls basketball team Friday took control of the game midway through the second quarter and never let go in a convincing 69-36 win over Pittsfield at the Boys and Girls Club.
Taconic (13-0, 11-0) wrapped up a share of the Berkshire County North Division title and continued its perfect season behidn 20 points from Ciany Conyers and 18 from Taea Bramer.
The turning point came with 4 minutes, 48 seconds left in the first half, just after Alexi Sondrini (team-high 16 points) knocked down a free throw for the Generals to tie the game, 19-19.
Taconic went on to score the next 17 points and went to the locker room with a 41-22 lead it never relinquinshed.
"I think it was just hunger going into that game and really wanting to make this a statement," Conyers said of the second quarter. "Just being here and making sure that we're winning the game and going hard."
Being "here" meant a little something extra for Conyers and her teammates, playing in front of a big crowd as part of a girls/boys double-header at the Club.
"I think it brings a lot of energy to the team, being back where it all started for most of us," she said. "It was really fun, and it makes things exciting."
And the game was exciting for the first 12 minutes as neither team was able to go up by more than five points.
The early lead belonged to Pittsfield after Jamie Duquette (8 points, nine rebounds) converted a conventional three-point play to make it 7-2.
Taconic came back to take a five-point lead of its own when Conyers made a steal and went the other way for a lay-in early in the second quarter to make it 17-12. But Pittsfield got a pair of 3s from Sondrini on consecutive possessions to go ahead at 18-17.
Taconic just turned up its pressure another notch and did not allow another field goal by the Generals until the final minute of the half, when the margin was 18.
"We just needed to be a little more aggressive," Taconic coach Matt Mickle said. "I thought we were a little too passive in the first quarter.
"They made shots. Pittsfield came ready to play early. They were kind of taking it to us. We just stayed the course, and eventually good things started to happen."
Conyers scored 12 of her game-high 20 in the second quarter, including a pair of 3-pointers in the go-ahead run.
"Obviously, she just brings so much to the team -- defensively and offensively," Mickle said. "She's so quick. Always positive. Team leader. I can't say enough about Ciany."
Conyers had five steals and a couple of assists in the win. Ahliya Phillips finished in double figures with 10 points, and Faith Cross pulled down 12 rebounds.
Pittsfield got 11 rebounds from Randi Duquette and four assists from Jordyn Lummus.
In the second half, the Generals pulled to within 16 when Emery Sime (six points, eight rebounds) put back an offensive rebound late in the third quarter.
But Taconic got a bucket from Phillips in transition and a triple from Bramer to end the period, and it held Pittsfield to just two points in the fourth quarter to close things out.
Taconic will look to stay unbeaten and secure an outright league title on Saturday night when it goes to Dalton to face Wahconah.
Pittsfield (9-7, 8-4) is home against Longmeadow on Monday.