Drury Wins Round One Against Hoosac Valley

NORTH ADAMS, Mass. – The Drury boys basketball team protected home court with a 57-41 victory over rival Hoosac Valley on Thursday night, extending its winning streak to six games.

 

Jorge Bond led the way for the Blue Devils with 19 points, including seven in the opening quarter. Brayden Durant finished with 14 points, while Shane Faucher and Connor Hinkell each added eight.

 

It was not the prettiest game from either side, but that was to be expected in a rivalry matchup. Drury made the necessary plays when it mattered most, and its defensive effort proved to be the difference. The Blue Devils set the tone early on the defensive end, closing driving lanes and forcing difficult shots, which allowed them to get out in transition when offense was hard to come by in the half court.

 

"We could not find our rhythm early on," Drury head coach Jack Racette said. "Defensively, I thought we did a pretty good job in the first half, but we were tired and you could see it. We are young, and we had two tough games this week with Wahconah and Hoosac. It will pay off by the end of the year, but right now we need a couple of days off."

 

Hoosac Valley struggled to generate consistent offense all night, whether the shots were contested or not. Drury’s defense closed the gaps on drives and made life difficult for the Hurricanes throughout the game.

 

The Blue Devils held Hoosac to just 10 first-half points, building a comfortable 20-point lead at the break.

 

Hoosac Valley came out of halftime with renewed energy, sparked by a pair of 3-pointers from Adam Wicks, who had been held scoreless in the first half. Just as momentum began to swing, Drury responded. Faucher came up with a pair of key blocks in the third quarter, leading to back-to-back transition baskets from Bond. The Blue Devils then capped the quarter with consecutive three-pointers, the first from Durant off a feed from Bond, followed by another assisted by Bond, effectively sealing the outcome.

 

Drury managed the game in the fourth quarter, emptying the bench and closing out the rivalry win.

 

The victory marked Drury’s sixth consecutive win since its only loss of the season, an opening-week setback against Pittsfield. The Blue Devils (8-1) will look to build on that momentum next week with games against Pittsfield on Tuesday and Taconic on Thursday.

 

"It does not get any easier," Racette added, "but I love the Berkshire League. This is what prepares you for the postseason. You do not see this anywhere else."

 

Hoosac Valley (4-4) will attempt to snap its two-game skid on Monday when it faces Monument Mountain.