Pittsfield Girls Top Drury

PITTSFIELD, Mass. -- A big first half from Pittsfield girls basketball sophomore Peyton Steinman put the game out of reach and put her team in position to make the most of its bench.

 

Steinman scored 17 of her game-high 19 in the first half to lead the Generals to a 57-33 win over Drury on Wednesday at Moynihan Field House.

 

"Tonight was a good opportunity for the young kids to get some playing time and run the floor along with the starters," Pittsfield coach Joe Racicot said. "I think that's important now, because you've got to have some depth if you want to go a long ways.

 

"We've been fortunate to have the opportunity to develop that."

 

And Pittsfield (8-2) has the potential to go a long way in the Western Massachusetts Division 2 girls basketball tournament in March.

 

But to do that, they Generals are going to have to take care of business in January and February.

 

"We just talked today about the whole Western Mass scenario," Racicot said. "Last year, we were to close to where we could have went to Belchertown [in the quarter-finals] instead of them coming to us. It's a long ride, and that 10-point home court advantage is always something.

 

"That's something we talked about today because the season is halfway."

 

And Pittsfield has a chance to avenge both its losses -- Hoosac Valley and Monument Mountain -- when each team visits the Generals next month.

 

On Wednesday night, Pittsfield dominated from the opening tip, starting the game with a 13-0 run that featured seven from Steinman.

 

After Drury (3-7) got points on back-to-back trips from Olivia Carlson and Jenna Moulton (team-high 13), Steinman closed out the quarter with a three-point play and a putback to push the lead to 18-7.

 

It was 22-7 after Steinman drove the right wing for a bucket early in the second, and it was a 17-point game at half-time after Trinity Cookis knocked down a 3-pointer just before the break.

 

Cookis went to the locker room with five points but scored 12 in the second half to finish just behind Steinman in the scoring column.

 

Lauren Carnevale scored five in the second half to go along with seven rebounds on the night. Allie Hunt had a game-high 12 rebounds.

 

For Drury, Molly Moulton had 10 rebounds and a couple of blocks to go with five points.

 

Pittsfield travels to Minnechaug on Friday. Drury heads to Frontier on Saturday.