Belchertown Boys Hold Off Spartans Late

GREAT BARRINGTON, Mass. – Belchertown’s Brice Letendre and Jake Pacunis combined for 57 points Monday in leading the Orioles to a 65-60 win at Monument Mountain.

 

Pacunas hit a pair of 3-pointers and scored all 10 Belchertown points in the fourth quarter to hold off a Monument Mountain comeback bid.

 

The Spartans, who trailed by 16 going to the fourth, got within two points with two minutes left on a layup by Nolan Barnes to make it 60-58.

 

But Pacunis answered with a 3 to start a 7-0 run to end the game.

 

“We had no answer for the two of those guys,” Monument Mountain coach Randy Koldys said. “We were hoping to follow up last Friday's big win and build on it but just came up short. We had a real good look at a 3 down 63-60 with 8.3 seconds to go, but it was just off. Proud of my guys for fighting back in the fourth.”

 

Barnes led Monument Mountain with 11 points. Jackson Nelson, Finn Mason and Dom Calautti each scored nine.

 

The Spartans (10-8) learn Tuesday who they will face in the quarter-finals of the Western Massachusetts Class B Tournament.