Howland, Hornets Top Turners
NORTH ADAMS, Mass. – Zach Howland’s 24 points led McCann Tech to a 64-52 win over Turners Falls in their home opener.
After a loss in their season opener, the McCann Tech Hornets (1-1) were eager to bounce back on their home floor. They came out firing, opening the game on a 12-0 run that featured strong interior play from Verne Percy, aggressive drives from Howland, and perimeter shooting from Kyle Rougeau.
Rougeau finished with 15 points, including two 3-pointers in the first quarter. McCann ended the opening frame with a 20-12 lead and held Turners Falls scoreless for the first three minutes of the game.
Late in the first quarter and into the second, the Hornets struggled to maintain the offensive rhythm they showed early. Turners Falls clawed its way back, fueled by transition baskets and timely offensive rebounds. They cut the deficit to just three points at halftime, 29-26. McCann was limited to nine points in the quarter and welcomed the halftime break.
“We were ready to go after our first loss at Westfield. We were ready to be back here at home,” McCann Tech head coach Chris Bullett said. “The first quarter, our guys played great, but in the second quarter we gave up too many offensive rebounds and our energy dropped when we went to the bench, which cannot happen. I got into them a little bit at halftime and told them they need to follow Kyle and Zach’s lead. They play hard all the time, and we need everyone to do that. They responded in the second half.”
The message resonated, as the Hornets regrouped after the break and showed the same tenacity they displayed early. McCann went on a 14-0 run, sparked by back-to-back 3-pointers, to build a 43-29 lead and force a Turners Falls timeout with just over five minutes remaining in the third quarter.
McCann finished the quarter with a 10-point advantage and maintained that cushion throughout much of the fourth. Howland scored on a strong finish at the rim to push the lead to double digits with three minutes left, then followed it with an offensive rebound and assist to Percy to extend the margin to 12. That sequence effectively ended any comeback attempt.
The Hornets handled Turners Falls’ full-court pressure well down the stretch, controlling the final minutes behind the steady guard play of Howland and Rougeau.
“Guards win in high school basketball, and we have two really good ones,” Bullett said. “It’s nice to have both of them back there and feel comfortable when teams press us.”
McCann will head back on the road Monday to face Pioneer Valley Chinese Immersion.