Taconic Girls Earn Win in City Rivalry Game

By Kevin ShakeriBerkshires.com Sports
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PITTSFIELD, Mass. -- The Taconic girls basketball team Monday took the season opener at home against city rival Pittsfield, 56-42.
 
Faith Cross had a monster game with 25 points and 15 rebounds to help secure the win for Taconic. Ahliya Phillips had 10, and Alexandra Hudson added six.
 
It was the first girls game in Taconic's gym since the program earned a share of the state championship in 2020, and the crowd was fully ready for basketball.
 
Both the Pittsfield and Taconic crowd spurred the the players on throughout the game, and the players didn’t disappoint to provide the entertainment. It was a high energy start, especially for Pittsfield on the defensive end. 
 
The Generals forced Taconic into some difficult shots and was able to force turnovers all over the court. The only thing lacking was shooting in the first quarter, but it picked up as the game went on. Pittsfield finished the quarter with an 11-8 lead.
 
Taconic continued to struggle at the start of the second quarter, going almost five minutes without a point. That first point came from a free throw, and from that point on the tides started to turn. Taconic then went on a 12-0 run to finish the quarter and take the lead 20-13 into the break. 
 
“We needed that run at the half," Taconic coach Matt Mickle said. "We were struggling, and the girls were frustrated both with the crowd and it being our first game and things not going as smoothly as we wanted them to."
 
It seemed like that run was all Taconic needed to get going. It carried that momentum through the break and into the third quarter. It scored 20 points alone in the third quarter, matching their first half total. Faith Cross had eight of her 20 points in the quarter as well and it seemed like every time Pittsfield started to creep back into the game, she had an answer down low to stop the run. 
 
“Faith was a monster tonight," Mickle said. "I think she had 25 and 15 with a few blocked shots mixed in. I can’t express how big of a player she was tonight and how much she means to us. I’m hoping for a big season for her. We just need to make sure we can keep getting her the ball.”
 
Pittsfield didn’t go away completely as the Generals made a couple more runs at Taconic, cutting the lead to as little as eight, but Taconic proved to be too much and were able to hold on. Randi Duquette was the leader for Pittsfield with 16 points, followed by Jamie Duquette with 10. 
 
Taconic (1-0) will take on Chicopee Comp on Thursday, While Pittsfield (0-1) will host Holyoke the same day. 
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