NORTH ADAMS, Mass. — In front of a packed crowd at MCLA's Campus Center Gymnasium, The Hoosac Valley High School girls basketball team raised the Class-D Western Massachusetts Championship plaque after a 61-40 win over Lee High School.
Three players scored in double figures for the Hurricanes, with Averie McGarth leading with 17 points and three 3-pointers. Caroline Maloney led Lee with 20 points. Hoosac Valley coach Holly McGovern explained getting to this point took time, and the team has grown immensely throughout the season.
"This doesn't start at the end of the season," she said. "This is a process that has been going on since our tryout process. So anything that we have done has just built on top of the fundamentals and the defensive and offensive aspects that we have. So this is a work in progress over the course of a season."
The Hurricanes' strong defense allowed the team to build a lead early in the game, ending the first quarter ahead with a 17-6 score. Hoosac Valley showed no signs of slowing down in the second quarter, and by the end of the first half, the team's lead had grown to 14 points.
McGovern said the circumstances of being in a championship game did not change how the team approached things during halftime.
"Halftime is always about breaking down what the opposing team is doing offensively and defensively and showing [the team] how they can make the adjustments necessary in the middle of the game," she said.
The Hurricanes maintained their double-digit lead to start the second half, ending the third quarter with a 43-30 score. The team's lead continued to grow in the fourth, reaching as high as 21.
Lee’s Caroline Maloney scored a game-high 20 points, and Ari Hall, Shalyn Kelly and Mia Puleri each scored six for the Wildcats.
Hoosac Valley Athletic Director Molly Meczywor congratulated the team on the win and applauded their dedication throughout the season. She also spoke highly of the team's success off the court, calling them fantastic student leaders.
"This is a true testament, I think, to their commitment and dedication to themselves, to the team, to their own sport," she said. "We're super proud. Our seniors, Rylan and Lily and Avery and Alyssa are fantastic student-athletes and great leaders. I think they have set a good tone, and everybody's excited to see how far we can get."
Meczywor also credited the Hurricanes' coaching staff for helping to put the team in a position to succeed.
"Holly and Mackenzie [Robinson] do a fantastic job with getting them ready for games like this and then tournaments. We're definitely super proud of what we have in terms of the basketball program," she said.
With the win, Hoosac Valley moves on to the state championship tournament, which will begin next week.
