Tyler Hastings hit a late 3-pointer and had the best offensive game of his career and Franklin County Technical School picked up a statement win with a 45-40 victory over Lee High School Friday night in Lee.
The Wildcats have struggled this season to a 1-8 record but for Franklin Tech to go to Lee and come away with a win is big for a team that seems to have righted the ship after a bit of a rocky start. And for the Eagles to win in the fashion that they did spoke volumes about how much progress the team has made.
A Hastings 3-pointer with four minutes to play put the Eagles (6-5) up 36-27 but the Wildcats answered with 3-pointers on three consecutive possessions to tie it at 36-36, as the Eagles were unable to make a shot in that span.
Lee then went ahead and had a 40-39 lead with one minute to play but Hastings drained what his coached deemed “the biggest shot of his career” when he made his third 3-pointer of the night to put the Eagles ahead to stay.
“Tyler played the best offensive game of his career tonight,” Franklin Tech coach Matt Llewelyn said.
The Eagles struggled mightily from the free throw line in the game but made enough down the stretch and played tough defense to hold on for the win.
“We were tough,” Llewelyn exclaimed. “We never got down on ourselves, even when they made that run, and we came out with a W. For such a young team, this was a gritty win. The guys are finding ways to win.”
Colin Gould finished with 25 points to lead all scorers, while Hastings added 11. Jared Bergmann chipped in 5.
Julian Nejaime led Lee with 17 points, and Ben Harding tossed in 10.
Granby 48, Frontier 34 — Noah Bleakley poured in 17 points to lead Granby High School to a 48-34 win over Frontier Regional School in an independent boys’ basketball game Friday night at Goodnow Gymnasium in South Deerfield.
Zach Gorham finished with 10 for the Rams while Mike Sosa added 9 points.
Ben Lowe led the way for the Red Hawks with 13 points, including three 3-pointers, while Carsten Carey finished with 6.
Frontier returns to action on Tuesday night at home against Hopkins Academy.
Narragansett 72, Athol 37 — Tyler Dill tallied 19 points, including five 3-pointers, to power Narragansett Regional High School to a 72-37 win over Athol High School in an independent boys’ basketball game Friday night in Baldwinville.
The Warriors combined to net 11 3-pointers in the game. Benny Raymond hit a trio of 3-balls en route to 15 points and Antonio Stakely finished with a pair of treys and 8 points in all.
Angel Rivera was the high scorer for the Red Raiders, recording 8 points. Jordan Chapalonis chipped in with 6.
Turners splits
Cameron Bradley and Chase Blair both won two events on Friday and the Turners Falls High School boys’ swimming & diving team edged Chicopee High School, 44-40, in a Constitution League swim meet in Turners Falls.
Bradley had a big day as he cruised to victories in the 200 yard freestyle (2 minutes, 9.79 seconds) and the 100 butterfly (1:04.33). Blair also swam well and won the 100 free (1:07.53) and the 100 breast (1:39.82).
Nikolas Martin picked up the Indians’ fifth individual victory of the day with his time of 32.52 in the 50 free. Martin also placed second in the 100 free in 1:15.09. Nick Taylor came in second in the 100 fly (1:08.97) and the 500 free (6:30.07), and Ed Reipold was second in the 200 free (2:31.62) and the 100 back (1:24.31).
Reipold, Martin, Taylor and Bradley won the 200 free relay in 2:05.85.
• On the girls’ side, Olivia Whittier and Jade Tyler each won two events but Turners Falls fell to Chicopee, 50-44.
Whittier won the 200 individual medley in 2:40.31 and won the 100 butterfly in 1:22.0, while Tyler captured both the 500 free (5:56.52) and the 100 breast (1:21.65). Melissa Hersey was second in the 100 back in 1:29.06, and Abigail Johnson was second in the 50 free in 36.84.
Hersey, Whittier, Tyler and Allison Wheeler joined forces to win both the 200 medley relay (2:19.30) and the 200 free relay (2:06.12), while Lillian Poirier, Johnson, Shaelyn Garvin and Jordyn Muniz were second in the 400 free relay in 6:04.16.