CHESHIRE, Mass. — Bella Aitken scored 18 points Thursday to help the Pittsfield girls basketball team hand Hoosac Valley its first loss to a Berkshire County opponent in nearly three years, a 53-46 decision.

 

Eight of Aitken’s 18 points came in the third quarter with a big 3 and some clutch free throws at the end to ice the game. 

 

It was a well balanced scoring attack for Pittsfield (11-3), as Peyton Steinman, Allie Hunt, and Julia Eline-Wright also chipped in with 11 points each. 

 

After losing the first meeting between these teams Pittsfield, came out strong breaking the pressure and taking a 21-12 lead at the end of the first.

 

“It was a matter of having a little more patience on offense," Pittsfield coach Joe Racicot said. "The patience really helped and finding the open man, and knowing where the trap was coming from."

 

For Hoosac Valley (14-2), Madi Ryan poured in 20 points, and Kailynne Frederick added 12. 

 

The game snapped a 45-game winning streak against Berkshire County teams dating back to Feb. 5, 2013. The team to last beat them was Pittsfield High School as well.

 

After a hot start by the Generals, the Hoosac Valley girls started to settle in as they went on a 5-0 run midway through the second quarter to cut the lead to 3. The Generals then went on another run of their own closing the half on 5-0 run to give them a 30-22 lead at half.

 

Like the first half started for Pittsfield so did the second half for Hoosac, getting off to an 11-2 run and closing the gap to  one possession game. As the fourth quarter began, Pittsfield maintained its focus and continued to keep Hoosac from taking the lead, eventually resulting in a win for Pittsfield.

 

“The only lead that counts is the one at the end of the game,” Racicot said. "And the bottom line is every possession the score is zero to zero.”

 

Pittsfield will look to build off of this momentum against Chicopee Comp at home Saturday, While Hoosac will go on the road to Wahconah Monday night.