NORTH ADAMS,  Mass. — The McCann Tech girls basketball team Thursday clinched a Western Massachusetts tournament berth with a narrow win over Southwick, 42-37. 

 

It took till the last game of the season last year for McCann to qualify for Western Mass. This year, they resolved that issue with five games left to spare.

 

It wasn’t easy, but the Hornets (10-5) were able to get things going early by attacking the hoop. They started the game off on a 9-2 run thanks mainly to shots around the hoop. This aggressive mentality forced Southwick into 10 first-quarter fouls. Although they got to the line, the free throw shooting wasn’t anything impressive as McCann Tech only managed to convert 18 of 40 FTs. 

 

“Our pressure generates our fast break and willingness to go to the hoop.” McCann Tech coach Kathy Budaj said. “We didn’t make as many free throws as I would have liked, but we are doing the right things, and we have to keep driving to the hoop otherwise our offense gets stagnant.”

 

The Hornets finished the quarter up 13-4 but that lead was quickly erased in the second quarter. Southwick came out on a 7-0 run to bring them within two points. After a timeout by McCann Tech, it returned the run with an 8-0 spurt of its own, regaining momentum.

 

After some back-and-forth play, Southwick was able to close the gap and only trail by three at the break, 22-19. McCann actually lost the lead late in the third quarter, going down 32-30 and was trailing going into the fourth.

 

In familiar territory as the last time these two met just 10 days ago, McCann was able to overcome that fourth quarter deficit and gain control of the game for good. Alvia Lesure scored a basket with just less than three minutes to go and then stole the inbounds pass on the next play to set up Izzy LaCasse for a trip to the line. McCann took a 37-32 lead and finish the game off with some timely free throws.

 

This game completed the sweep over Southwick for McCann and gave them that all important 10th win for Western Mass qualifications. 

 

“Getting into the tournament with 10 wins was huge,” Budaj said. “Our schedule was not easy and every game is a game. It’s a good feeling, because last year we made the tournament for winning the league, we didn’t make it in for 10 wins so making it in with 10 wins this time, it’s a good thing.”

 

McCann Tech will look to improve its tournament seed next Monday against Smith Academy, a team it beat narrowly in the beginning of the year.