Pittsfield's Duquette, Monument Mountain's Carlson Recognized

It was the second straight short week for high school sports – this time not because of the calendar but Mother Nature.

 

iBerkshires.com’s Athletes of the Week made the most of their opportunities to shine, getting their teams off to undefeated starts.

 

The Monument Mountain boys basketball team is 2-0 after two wins this week, and Khalil Carlson is a big reason why.

 

The junior swing averaged 28 points per game in wins over Hoosac Valley and Cape Cod Academy.

 

Carlson, who finished last season averaging about 18 ppg, said this year’s Spartans are a tight-knit group.

 

“We’ve kind of been playing together for years, since elementary school,” he said after Sunday’s win. “We almost have a telepathy thing going on at this point. Our chemistry is great, a lot better than last year, to be honest.

 

“I hope that translates into more wins.”

 

Pittsfield High senior Jamie Duquette and the Generals won 11 games last year but already have done something they did not do in the 2021-22 season: win the opener.

 

On Tuesday at the Boys and Girls Club, Duquette scored 23 points and grabbed seven rebounds in a convincing win over city rival Taconic in the only game the Generals got in during the storm-shortened week.

 

Last year, she averaged nearly 18 ppg and 10.6 rebounds for Pittsfield. This year’s squad could be even better than the one that advanced to the semi-finals of the Western Massachusetts Class B tournament.

 

“We have some young players coming in that make a huge difference,” Duquette said after Tuesday’s victory.

 

The Generals’ next test comes Tuesday when they welcome Monument Mountain for an independent game.

 

Carlson and the Spartans continue Bi-County East League play on Monday when Wahconah pays a visit.