Hoosac Girls Win Showdown With Granby

By Stephen DravisiBerkshires.com Sports
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CHESHIRE -- The Hoosac Valley High School girls basketball team's defensive prowess makes it a tough match-up for anyone.
 
When the Hurricanes score in the 70s, make that an impossible match-up.
 
Emily Rosse scored 20 points and grabbed 11 rebounds Saturday to lead the 'Canes to a 74-48 win over the previously unbeaten Granby Rams in the finale of the seventh annual Berkshire County Girls Basketball Coaches vs. Cancer Showcase.
 
Hoosac (12-1) has held all by two opponents to fewer than 50 points this season. But it also has scored north of 70 on seven occasions.
 
A lot of that offense comes from transition chances created on defense, but on Saturday Hoosac was just as lethal in the half court as it was on the break.
 
"We've been averaging about 64 a game, so we're trying to push the ball and see if we can stay around that number," Hoosac coach Ron Wojcik said. "We understand that that's a tough number for a lot of teams to reach, so we feel if we can run and get some easy baskets in transition, which we did, then we certainly have the opportunity to win the game, for sure."
 
In addition to those lay-ups in transition, the Hurricanes knocked down nine 3-pointers, three out of the hands of their 5-foot-11 center.
 
Rosse also had three steals and handled the ball effectively -- showing off the full range of her formidable game.
 
"Emily plays a great floor game," Wojcik said. "She can run the floor. She has 3-point range. She doesn't take a lot of them, but when they have a center who sits back in the paint, she can hit those. So I told her to look for them tonight.
 
"Emily gives us a lot. We're not big, so we need Emily in the post."
 
After Granby (12-1) jumped out to an 8-3 lead in the opening moments, it was all Hoosac the rest of the night.
 
The 'Canes used a 16-2 run to open a nine-point lead with two minutes left in the first quarter and gradually built from there.
Rosse started the run with a steal in the press to set up a Megan Rodowicz lay-up. Jen Gale and Rosse hit triples in the middle of the run, and a pair offensive rebounds -- by Gale and Kailynne Frederick -- led to a couple of free throws by Gale to make it 19-10.
 
It was a 16-point bulge by the midway point of the third when Maddie Ryan set up Frederick for a bucket to make it 31-15.
After McKenzie Robinson set up Rodowicz for a lay-up to make it 48-28 midway through the third, Granby never got closer than 14 the rest of the way.
 
Playing largely its reserves, Hoosac finished on a 7-0 run to provide the final margin of victory.
 
Robinson scored 13 and dished out four assists. Rodowicz scored 13.
 
Rebecca Sapouckey led Granby with 13 points and 11 rebounds.
 
Robinson said Saturday's game will help Hoosac down the road, and not just when it comes to seeding as it tries to defend its Western Massachusetts Division 2 championship.
 
"When we found out we were playing Granby, we knew they were going to be one of the top teams in our division in Western Mass," Robinson said of the 2013 Western Mass D-3 semi-finalist Rams. "So when we had a the chance to play them not in tournament, it's great because now we have a feel for them.
 
"If we see them again in tournament, which I'm sure we will, it won't be a shock. We know what they can bring."
 
Hoosac hosts St. Joseph on Tuesday.
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