Hampshire drops defensive battle to Palmer in WMass Division 3 boys basketball tournament

PALMER — The Hampshire Regional boys basketball team’s season came to an end on Thursday in the Western Massachusetts Division 3 Tournament quarterfinal round.

The sixth-seeded Raiders fell to No. 3 Palmer in a hard-fought defensive battle.

The Panthers advanced with a 37-25 win. Palmer (20-1) will play No. 2 Drury (18-3) in the semifinals.

Matt Babyak had nine points for Hampshire, which closed 14-8.

Hampshire coach Claud Salomao was pleased with his team’s defensive performance.

Palmer “came in averaging 72 points per game, so to hold them to 37 on their home court was a great effort on my kids part,” said Salomao, who is stepping down after 18 seasons. “I am so proud of their effort tonight.”

Palmer set the tone for the first quarter after the opening tip. Before three seconds could tick off the clock, Palmer’s Ryan McCarthy (11 points) took the ball and drove to the hoop. McCarthy was fouled on a layup and completed the three-point play.

The defensive pressure from Palmer led to a 16-6 advantage entering the second. The Panthers forced the Raiders into multiple shot-clock violations throughout the game, and when they did not commit a violation, Hampshire used most of the shot clock on a majority of possessions.

However, the Raiders found some holes in the Panthers’ defense and shrunk their deficit to 26-17 heading into the break.

The second half was a defensive battle from both teams. The Panthers moved the ball rapidly and with precision on the offensive end to try and stretch out the Raiders’ defense, while Hampshire slowed the game down and used the shot clock to try and find good opportunities.

The Raiders’ defense worked but Hampshire couldn’t cut into the deficit. Palmer led 32-20 after the third. Each team scored five points in the fourth.

It was the final game for eight Hampshire seniors — Babyak, Jacob Bihler, Connor Bryant, Furkan Kocaman, Tim Krasun, Riley Provost, Nate Sawyer and Greg Laroche.

Laroche, who led the team this season with 31 3-pointers, did not play due to an injury.

“We had a lot of guys playing their last game tonight, and unfortunately without (Laroche) out there, a kid who has been on varsity for so long, it is too bad he did not get to play in his last game,” Salomao said. “It is tough to see it come to an end like this. To lose on an effort from the kids like this stings, but the kids gave it everything they had. I am so proud of them.”

Palmer 37, Hampshire Regional 25

Hampshire (14-8)

McCarthy 5-1-11, Niemczura 4-3-12, Bucknam 3-0-6, Lombardi 0-0-0, Remillard 1-0-2, Tenczar 1-0-2, Ladue 0-0-0, Cookish 1-1-3. Totals: 15-5-37

Palmer (20-1)

Provost 0-0-0, Kocaman 0-0-0, Helems 1-0-3, Bryant 1-0-2, Sawyer 2-0-6, Babyak 4-1-9, Bihler 2-0-5, Krasun 0-0-0. Totals: 10-1-25

3-Pointers—Palmer 2 (Remillard, Niemczura), Hampshire 4 (Helems, Sawyer 2, Bihler)