HADLEY — Despite a late comeback effort, the Hopkins Academy boys basketball team held off Pittsfield, 63-50, Friday night.
Down 17 at the half, Pittsfield (6-10) went on a 24-6 run between the third and fourth quarters, tying the game at 48 with 5 minutes left. But it wasn’t enough to stop Sam’i Roe and the Golden Hawks (13-1).
Roe led all scorers and rebounders with 31 points and 16 boards. He also had seven steals, including one with 1:30 left to play that led to a dagger three-point play on the other end.
“He’s our go-to guy, there’s no doubt about it,” said Hopkins coach Angelo Thomas of his senior guard. “We can’t rely so heavily on him because we have other guys that can play, but some of our guys weren’t shooting well tonight, we had a couple guys didn’t look into the game, and that’s when we need a guy like Sam’i Roe to step up and take charge.”
Roe knows winning is accomplished with all five guys on the floor.
“We came together as a team at the end,” said Roe. “They came back and tied it at one point, but I’m glad that we focused and came together at the end of the game.”
Hopkins got off to a hot start, leading 18-10 after the first quarter. Junior center Jon Morrison had seven points in the first frame, and played tough defense inside to limit Pittsfield’s quick, attacking ballhandlers. He finished the game with 13 points and 11 rebounds.
An even slower second quarter for Pittsfield made the score 33-17 going into halftime. But after the break, Pittsfield’s offense came to life.
The Generals scored 19 points in the third quarter, including 11 from guard Terrick Boire. And after multiple sloppy offensive possessions for Hopkins to open the fourth, the game was knotted up at 48.
That’s when Hopkins came back to life.
“Once the game did get tied, we kind of popped back into it,” said Thomas. “We can’t pop in and out of energy and effort.”
A runner from guard John Earle with 3:18 left were the first Hopkins points of the fourth quarter, but the basket broke the 48-48 tie. From there, it was all Roe and Morrison.
Both hit late free throws to put the game further out of reach, but Roe’s steal, full-court sprint and score with 90 seconds left put Pittsfield away.
Despite several comeback attempts, Pittsfield never led in the game. The Generals showed some of the grit that made them finalists in last year’s Division 2 sectional tournament.
“I guess I was impressed with the fact that we did turn it on for the last four-and-half minutes,” said Thomas. “Up 21 to being tied in less than a quarter, the only positive I can take out of that was turning it on late.”
The Golden Hawks (10-0 Hampshire) return Tuesday against league foe Mohawk (3-9, 2-6 Hampshire). The two-time defending Division 4 sectional champs have six games remaining in the regular season.
“If we want to be a championship team, championship teams don’t float in and out of energy and effort,” said Thomas. “I’m really looking for complete games, instead of a quarter here, and a quarter there.”