GREENFIELD — Led by Conner Bergeron and Grayson Thomas, the second-seeded Greenfield boys basketball team defeated No. 7 Lenox, 57-39, in the Western Mass. Class C quarterfinal round on Wednesday.
Greenfield advances to play the winner of No. 3 Ware and No. 6 Athol. The Green Wave played an uneven game against the Millionaires but pulled away comfortably in the fourth quarter.
“We need to improve the mental aspect of it,” Greenfield coach Angelo Thomas said. “They’ve (Lenox) been in our league the last five or six years. I knew they were going to come and play tough. We just had to match that. We did in the first half but the rebounding aspect. We have to rebound way better. “
Gavin Arsenault and Bodie Burke both missed the game with illnesses. Arsenault is a primary ball-handler for the Green Wave. Bergeron started strong in the first half, scoring 17 of his game-high 22 points in first 16 minutes. Even during moments of heavy emotion and adversity, Bergeron maintains a steady and efficient presence on the court for Greenfield.
“Me being steady brings other people up,” Bergeron said. “They match my energy. I think that energy carries to them.”
With Bergeron’s scoring, Greenfield went into halftime with a 32-14 lead. Bergeron drilled three 3-pointers in the first half.
“I wish more of our guys were even keeled like that,” Thomas said of Bergeron. “He’s doesn’t get high, he doesn’t get low. He just plays. That’s something in sports that’s hard to come by. Sports are an emotional thing. He just doesn’t get emotional.”
Greenfield held its biggest lead in the third quarter when it led 45-24 over the Millionaires. Lenox answered with a 12-1 to end the third frame. Greenfield went into the fourth quarter with a 10-point lead.
“We need to stay in the game,” Thomas said. “We thought were up by like 30 points and it was a 10-point game.”
That’s when Grayson Thomas (21 points) stepped into the closer role for the Green Wave. Thomas scored the first six points of the fourth quarter to give Greenfield a 52-38 lead with four minutes, 25 seconds left in the game. A strong take by Bergeron upped the lead to 54-38.
“We just have to bring more energy,” Grayson Thomas said. “We were missing our point guard. We needed someone to fill in and Conner (Bergeron) did well. We just needed to come together more.”
Thomas fell awkwardly on his right arm late in the fourth quarter but stayed in the game after a Greenfield timeout. Davian Bala scored eight points with two 3-pointers for the Green Wave. Arthur Fitzpatrick added six points, all in the paint.
Pittsfield 62, Frontier 58 — In Western Mass. Class B quarterfinal action, the third-seeded Generals took down No. 6 Frontier in the Berkshires. Max Millette scored 22 points for the Redhawks. Alex Ellis (16 points) and Garrett Dredge (10 points) also reached double-figures.
WMass girls basketball
Pioneer 39, Baystate Academy 32 — Fifth-seeded Pioneer went on the road and defeated No. 4 Baystate Academy in the Western Mass. Class D quarterfinals in Springfield. The Panthers will play top-seeded Granby on Friday, Feb. 13 at 6 p.m.
Kyler McClelland got cooking in the first half with 14 points with four 3-pointers in the first 16 minutes. The Bulls adjusted their defense to slow down McClelland in the second half. Maggie Tsipenyuk stepped in and scored 13 points with 12 rebounds and four assists. Cobi Tyminski added six points and six rebounds for the Panthers.
In her first varsity action, Ariana Perkins scored two points.
Hoosac Valley 50, Mohawk 25 — The seventh-seeded Warriors fell in the Berkshires to the No. 2 Hurricanes in the Western Mass. Class D quarterfinals. Emmalee Inman scored 11 points for Mohawk. Sadie Wilcox and Natalie Lanoue both added five points for the Warriors.
Non-playoff results
Franklin Tech 52, Athol 34 — Brayleigh Burgh (16 points) and Abigail Dobias (12 points) were both in double-figures for the Eagles in the home win over the Bears in non-tournament play. Dobias added four assists and three steals for the Eagles.
Abigayle Spooner scored 11 points for the Bears. Serena Nkengafe and Kamrya Clark both added six points.
