Bird, Gittens Spark Second-Half Rally for MCLA Men

MCLA Sports Information10:49PM / Thursday, December 02, 2021Print Story | Email Story

NORTH ADAMS, Mass. -- MCLA's Hayden Bird and Quentin Gittens combined for 32 second half points as the Trailblazer men's basketball team pulled away from visiting NVU-Lyndon 91-74 this evening in non conference play.

The win for MCLA (4-5) marked its second straight triumph. The Hornets drop to 1-5 overall.

Both teams traded runs in the opening half and MCLA led by double digits early. The Hornets fought back however and trail just 42-41 at halftime. Drury alum Bird and Taconic gradate Gittens were relatively quiet in the opening half combining for just 7 points on 1-for-5 shooting.

The second half was a different story.

Bird, who leads all of NCAA Division III in 3-point field goals made, went off for 19 second half points. He was 7-for-11 in the half and was was 6-for-9 behind the arc. He tallied 19 second half points to end with a game high 24-point night.

Early in the second half, it was Gittens who made his presence felt. The junior was a force down low as he scored eight straight points in one stretch to help MCLA open up a double digit lead. Gittens ended the half 5-8 from the floor and scored 13 of his 15 points in the closing stanza.

Even with Gittens torrid start to the half, MCLA led just 61-58 after a Hornet bucket with 12:16 left. MCLA responded with a 9-4 surge to take a 70-62 edge. Lyndon would keep battling and get the lead down to five points at 72-67, but a Bird triple and Noah Yearsley drive extended the margin to 10 and MCLA never looked back. Down the stretch, the lead stayed in double figures as Lyndon couldn't find much offense down the stretch.

Drury grad Reece Racette had his best offensive game of the season with 15 points and narrowly missed a double-double by pulling down nine rebounds. He added five assists to his stat line. Yearsley ended with 14 points in the win. Quincy Kelly had a nice night off the bench with a season best 10 points.

MCLA shot 48 percent in the win and owned a commanding 49-31 edge off the glass.

Lyndon was paced by Zach Falkenburg's 24 points. Luke Fredsell finished with 15 points while Antonio Carlisle chipped in with 16 points before fouling out.

MCLA is back in action on Tuesday when it hosts Elms College.

iBerkshires.com Text Ads

Now's the time...

to harvest value from your home. Click for more details about a HELOC. Insured by NCUA.

www.greylock.org

rk MILES Blding Materials

Are You Ready to Update Your Home? Start With rk MILES. 4 Locations (800)670-7433

www.rkmiles.com

If you would like to contribute information on this article, contact us at info@iberkshires.com.

North Adams Council OKs New Sustainability Committee

By Tammy DanielsiBerkshires Staff
05:13AM / Thursday, September 10, 2026

NORTH ADAMS, Mass. — The City Council on Tuesday night moved the establishment of a Sustainability & Tree Commission to a second reading and publication.

Mayor Jennifer Macksey back in February had presented the council with a list of objectives and how she thought a such a committee could support the administration. Councilor Andrew Fitch had raised the issue the year before, referred it to the mayor's office and pushed through the ordinance.

As the process moved forward, he recommended it merge with the Tree Commission, taking on that committee's objectives as part of the city's sustainability mission. It will make recommendations such as regarding climate change and impact on neighborhoods, and be able to seek grants, partnerships and other resources.

The language provided to the council on Tuesday had been reviewed by several committees and commissions and included changes advised by the city solicitor.

"It's been through a whole bunch of different reviews, and it took different tweaks from each of these committees," said Fitch, acting as president that night. "Each of these committees and commission provided excellent guidance of how to make this a little bit stronger, how to make this a little bit better."

Jenny Dunning, a member of the grassroots North Adams Sustainability Task Force, spoke at the beginning of the meeting to endorse the ordinance.

"I just want to say how much I appreciate that the council and the administration has moved forward to figure out a way to make this happen, and it's up for the vote tonight," said Dunning, who serves on the Windsor Lake Commission. "And we've got five of us who are here to support this change."

View Full Story