Pittsfield Trumps Agawam in Triple OT

Courtney McLaughlin

AGAWAM, Mass. — Whatever happens the rest of the way in the Division 1 Western Mass. tournament, the Pittsfield girls' basketball team is guaranteed to have one amazing memory from the 2012-13 season. 

The No. 9 Generals assured that on Tuesday night, coming through in the end for a thrilling 75-72 triple overtime win over No. 8 Agawam. Pittsfield (14-7) received a career high 35 points from senior captain Courtney McLaughlin, who hit seven 3-pointers on the night, one of which tied the game at the end of regulation. 

Joe Racicot's squad was able to withstand 31 points, 14 rebounds and eight blocks from Brownies forward Alycia Rackliffe and a six-point deficit with 36 seconds left in the first overtime. McLaughlin hit a 25-foot shot to cut Agawam's lead down to three points before the Generals came up with a big stop on the defensive end. With three seconds left in the first overtime, sophomore guard Trinity Cookis (nine points) banked in the game-tying three to force a second overtime. 

Pittsfield trailed again by one point with three seconds left in the second overtime, but McLaughlin hit 1 of 2 free throws to force a third and final extra period. Six players ended up fouling out of the game, including McLaughlin and three other Generals. The visitors pulled ahead in the third overtime, however, and senior Sydney Deluce scored her only points of the night on a pair of foul shots to give Pittsfield a three-point lead. The Brownies (12-9) had one last chance to tie the game but failed on a 3-point attempt from the left wing as time expired. 

Sophomore forward Lauren Carnevale added 12 points for the Generals, while Christie Mirski poured in 18 points for Agawam. 

Pittsfield now advances to Friday night's quarterfinal game against top-seeded Northampton (16-4). While it might seem like the Generals are big underdogs on the road, keep in mind Pittsfield has already defeated the Blue Devils once this year, a 54-42 win at home in the third game of the year. Northampton will get a chance to make amends for that loss on its home court at 7 p.m. on Friday.