The Franklin County Technical School girls basketball team knocked off Hampden Charter School of Science in a 41-30 independent win on Thursday night in Turners Falls.
It was a wire-to-wire win for the Eagles (3-1) who jumped on the Wolves early with their press.
“We still have a lot of room to improve,” Franklin Tech coach Joe Gamache said. “But they are a fun group. Willing to put in the work.”
Gemanaia Cruz had an active evening with hustle plays all over the court. The junior led by example with her effort and finished with nine points, 12 rebounds, four steals and three assists.
“Some of the time, the level of energy starts to drop,” Cruz said. “Usually the energy the team is giving out I try to boost it up. If I am hurting a lot, I am hustling a lot so I don’t feel it.”
Jordan Hurlbert remained a strong presence in the paint for the Eagles with 10 points and 13 rebounds. Hurlbert added four assists with good court vision in the paint.
Franklin Tech’s active defense gave the Wolves problems from the start. Hampden Charter didn’t score scored its first basket until there were 2 minutes, 31 seconds left in the first quarter.
A silky outside jumper by Isabelle Duga gave the Eagles a 6-0 lead with just under five minutes left in the first quarter.
Duga had a solid shooting night for the Eagles, scoring eight points.
Desiree Doane hit another jumper before a timeout by Hampden Charter. Later in the quarter Duga fed Doane for another jumper near the baseline to increase the lead to 10-2.
Duga opened the second quarter with a runner in transition to make it 12-2. The Wolves got it going offensively cutting the lead to 14-8 but a jumper by Jocelyn Crowningshield (six points, four assists) ended the run.
Cruz and Gabby Castagna both scored late second quarter buckets on good ball-movement to send the Eagles into the intermission leading 20-11.
The Wolves cut the led to 24-19 in the third, but a jumper by Hurlbert got the Franklin Tech offense back on track.
Cruz got the lead back to double digits when she rebounded her own miss from the free throw line and laid it in for the Eagles.
The Eagles went into the the final quarter up 30-19. Hurlbert scored four of her 10 points in the final frame to help put away the Wolves.
Greenfield 9, Ludlow 2 – The Wave (2-1) found the net early and often in a road independent win at the Olympia Ice Center in West Springfield on Thursday night.
The return of Mike McGoldrick (two goals, assist) from injury and a strong forecheck gave the offense a sizable boost in the scoring outburst against the Lions.
“We take big pride in our forecheck,” Greenfield coach Adam Bouchard said. “We continually putting pressure on is what we strive for, the more pucks we put on net the better.”
Shane Prusak scored his first ever varsity goal for the Green Wave in the win.
Sean O’Sullivan (two goals), Aidan Roche (two assists), Jacob Bryant (assist), Kyle Barnes and Robert Harris (assist) also scored Greenfield. The Wave led 5-1 after the first period.
“We scored dirty goals tonight,” Bouchard said. “Getting to goal scorer areas. We took it to the net.”
Bryan Baumann distributed effectively for the Wave with four assists.
Greenfield is back in action on Saturday at Collins-Moylan Arena against Southwick at 6:30 p.m.