NORTH ADAMS, Mass. — The McCann Tech boys basketball team is 5-4 in its last nine games.

It is 10 points away from being unbeaten over that stretch.

The Hornets dropped a 44-42 decision to Smith Vocational on Tuesday night -- the fourth time this month they have lost by three points or fewer.

"All of them came on the last possession," McCann coach Mike Nykorchuk said. "We're in games. Now we have to learn how to win games."

The Hornets (5-8) were hampered by the absence of Shane Fuller, who averages more than seven points and four rebounds per game.

But McCann still jumped out to a 12-0 lead to start the game and led 31-20 at half-time.

The wheels came off in the second half, when the home team managed just 11 points.

"They started pressing full court, and we lost our composure," Nykorchuk said.

It was a tie game in the final minute when Chad Raimer drove the baseline into traffic and his shot rimmed out. Smith got the rebound and, with no timeouts left, went the length of the floor to score the game-winner with three secnods on the clock.

Sam Sharpe and Jordan Castillo scored 17 and 16 points, respectively, to lead Smith Voc.

Josh Superneau scored 12, and Cody O'Neill and T.J. Therrien each had nine for McCann.

The Hornets travel to Franklin Tech on Friday night.