submitted by Dean Foster
The Hoosac School’s boys basketball team defeated the MacDuffie School of Granby, MA, last Sunday, March 4, in the New England Prep School Athletic Council Championship game by a score of 64-57.
Hoosac, seeded third in the eight team tournament, breezed by Chase Collegiate of Waterbury, CT, in the quarterfinals on Thursday, 80-53, and fought off the second seeded Bancroft School of Worcester, MA, in the semifinal on Friday, 57-47, to reach Sunday’s final against the #1 seed, and undefeated in Class D, MacDuffie School.
Hoosac controlled the pace of the game for most of the first half and went into the locker room with a 32-29 lead after 16 minutes of play. More of the same followed in the second half as the Hoosac Owls were able to extend the lead to 39-31 in the first five minutes of play of the second half. MacDuffie would not go quietly and made up the difference. They not only tied the game but streaked out in front by 6 points with 6 minutes remaining in the game.
Hoosac remained calm and, with determined defense, steady free throw shooting, two deadly three-pointers and a huge dunk by Unique McLean, regained the lead and maintained control until the final buzzer. Coach Foster and Coach Ryan were very complimentary of the MacDuffie team and their efforts.
Coach Foster commented on the Hoosac players, “The boys followed the game plan to a T and when things did break down for a few minutes in the second half, they settled down and got back on top with good fundamental basketball.” Both Coaches credit the win to excellent teamwork and to the players supporting one another in all aspects of the game. Senior and Captain Quadry Anderson was named the game MVP, most likely for his impressive defensive work on MacDuffie’s 6’9’’ center, Kerem Kanter. Kanter scored 15, but that was 15 less than the last time the two teams met.
Championship Game Box Score
Hoosac
McLean – 4-2pt, 4-3pt, 5-6 FT = 25 points
Noel – 4-2pt, 2-3pt, 5-6 FT = 17 points
Wingate – 4-2pt, 1-3pt = 11 points
Spellman – 2-2pt, 1-2 FT = 5 points
Anderson – 2-2 FT = 2 points
Guscott – 2-2pt = 4 points
Borora and Raptis did not score.
Hoosac Totals – 15-2pt, 7-3pt, 13-17 FT = 64 points
MacDuffie
Nelson – 2-2, 3-3, 2-5 = 15 points
Kanter – 7-2, 1-2 = 15 points
Jones – 2-2. 1-3, 0-2 = 7 points
Keams – 0-2, 3-3, 0-0 = 9 points
Marchmen – 2-2, 0-3, 0-1 = 4 points
Jordan – 2-2, 0-3, 0-0 = 4 points
Kohen – 0-2, 1-3, 0-0 = 3 points
MacDuffie Totals – 15-2pt, 8-3pt, 3-10 FT = 57 points
Hoosac’s leading scorers in the tournament were #4 Unique McLean with 62 points (20.7ppg) 16-2pt, 7-3pt, 9-14 FT, #21 Charles Wingate with 35 points (11.7 ppg) 8-2pt, 6-3pt, 1-1 FT, #2 Omari Spellman with 35 points (11.7) 16-2pt, 0-0 3pt, 3-6 FT, #11Jabari Noel with 30 points (10 ppg) 8-2pt, 2-3pt, 10-12 FT.
