TURNERS FALLS, Mass. – Ninth-grader Eva Moser hit the game-winning shot with 20 seconds left Monday to lift the Drury girls basketball team to a 46-45 win over Franklin Tech in the quarter-finals of the Western Massachusetts Class C tournament.

 

“We went into the game down our starting forward (Maddie Houghtaling who was sick) and our two back up guards out (Hannah LaCasse and Megan McGrath),” Drury coach Ian Downey said. “When that happens, you look for girls to step up and freshman Eva Moser did that. She found a soft spot in their zone and hit a turn around game-winning jump shot with 20 seconds left to put us up 1.”

 

The sixth-seeded Blue Devils overcame a 37-30 deficit to pull off the upset win on the road.

 

“We immediately out of a time out had back-to-back great defensive and offensive possessions to cut into the lead,” Downey said. “From there, our defense stepped up as we went on a 16-8 run to end the game capped by Eva’s game winner. Ironically, Franklin got the ball back under their basket with 0.4 seconds left, and it was our defense that didn’t let them get a shot off.”

 

Lauren Davis led Drury’s offense with 12 points, Jacinta Felix scored 10, and Brooke Bishop and Alyssa Russell added eight and seven, respectively.

 

“Hard fought, back and forth game,” Downey said. “In the tournament it doesn’t matter how you win, you just need to win. When you are on the road you know you are going to face adversity.”

 

Drury (9-10) moves on to Wednesday’s quarter-final round at second-seeded Palmer, a 55-28 winner over Greenfield on Monday.