NORTH ADAMS, Mass. — The Drury boys basketball team Friday held off Wahconah late to win its season opener, 53-51.
Myles Beauchamp led the way with 15 points, all coming from behind the arc, including three 3s in the first quarter. Dante Dillard and Sammy Moorman pitched in with 14 points apiece.
It seems no matter the lineup changes year after year Drury (1-0) vs Wahconah (0-1) is a game you don’t want to miss. This year was no different as both of these teams battled all game long going on runs of their own to keep it close throughout the game.
Drury started the game on a 10-3 run thanks to a few made threes from Myles Beauchamp. Drury’s defense
was up to the task early, getting hands in passing lanes, and really limiting Wahconah to one shot on offense.
It wasn’t until Pat Mclaughlin knocked down a 3 while getting fouled to complete the four-point play and to bring the score to 10-7. It was a game of mini runs but Drury was able to hold the lead throughout the whole game. With time running down in the first quarter James Varellas caught a baseline pass from Dillard and knocked down a contested corner 3 just before the buzzer to give the Blue Devils a 16-10 lead.
In the second half, Wahconah finally started to get some offensive rebounds, giving it some much needed second chance points to stay within striking distance. Mclaughlin did his best efforts on the offensive end leading the way for Wahconah with 31 points.
The visitors cut the lead to just two late in the second quarter, but once again Drury’s execution down the stretch led to a Sammy Moorman jump shot with time expiring to give them a 28-23 half-time lead.
“James hit a three at the end of the first quarter and Sammy knocked one down at the end of the second, those are big baskets for us, again we are young so those are big baskets.” Drury coach Jack Racette said.
Drury came out strong in the second half going on a 6-0 run and looking like they were ready to run away with this one, but credit to Wahconah who continued to fight back with a 6-0 themselves. The game stayed within single digits the rest of the way and with 2:40 left in the game Wahconah was able to cut the deficit to just two points. On the next play Myles Beauchamp knocked down another big 3 from the wing to give Drury a 49-43 lead.
“Myles is one of our experienced players out there,” Racette said.”He played well for us last year down the stretch, he’s a good shooter and hit some big threes for us tonight.”
With two minutes left in the game, Wahconah was able to get in the bonus. It knocked down the first free throw and missed the second but was able to come away with a steal that it finished to again get within three.
Drury turned the ball over on the next play giving Wahconah a chance to tie the game with less than 30 seconds left to play. Wahconah would miss a good look from midrange but fight for the rebound and kick out
to a wide open Pat Mclaughin, who tied the game up at 51 a piece with 18 seconds left to go.
Drury’s Moorman then went to the other end of the court and got fouled with four seconds left. After knocking down two clutch free throws Wahconah had one more look from behind the arc to win the game but came up short.
Drury escaped with a two point win in the season opener and looks to build on that going into Monday’s home game against Lee.
Wahconah will get back to the drawing board before they face Minnechaug on the road next Wednesday.
