NORTHAMPTON — For the first time since 2014, the Northampton boys basketball team played a home playoff game Thursday night.
And all the third-seeded Blue Devils did was send home the four-time defending Western Massachusetts Division 1 champions with a 67-53 win over Putnam.
The Blue Devils (15-6) will play No. 2 Amherst Regional (16-5) in the semifinal round at a date, time and place to be determined. The Hurricanes beat East Longmeadow 74-66 in the quarterfinals.
The Blue Devils are 0-2 against the Hurricanes this season.
“They are a very athletic, dynamic team,” Northampton coach Rey Harp said. “We played them right down to the wire last game. We could have had that game. We have to execute the way we did tonight.”
On Thursday, Northampton used the same strategy that has been effective for them all season — aggressive, relentless defense and an offense that does not rely on just one player.
“They have gotten used to finding out how to use each other,” Harp said. “Early on our shots weren’t falling. That changed. But defensively, everyone plays.”
With 6 minutes, 10 seconds left in the game, the Blue Devils went on a 14-0 run that closed out the Beavers (10-11).
The facilitation and driving ability of Henry Doherty (15 points) sparked the run. After penetration by Doherty, Kieran Thurston hit two 3-pointers to give Northampton a 58-51 lead.
“Those shots made it a three possession game,” Harp said. “Kieran stepped up and hit huge shots.”
The late shots by Thurston were his only points of the game.
“I really don’t think about anything,” Thurston said. “Shooters got to shoot. I have to make those shots. Even if I am missing I know the next one is going in.”
A 3-pointer by Andy Grygorcewicz (13 points, 12 rebounds) on a extra pass from Thurston completed the 14-0 run for the Blue Devils.
While Hamp’s offense got hot, its defense held the Beavers to only four points in the fourth quarter.
In the third quarter with Northampton trailing 37-29, Nick Heafey and Mike McCarthy combined for 11 points to help the Blue Devils.
“You have to trust your teammates to do the right thing,” Heafey said. “If you trust them the right person will have the ball and that’s how you win games like this.”
On three possessions Heafey slithered his way through Putnam’s crowded zone to get to the rim.
“I used a lot of fake passes,” Heafey said. “They are an athletic team that wants to run and dunk. If you fake them out they go flying all over the place.”
McCarthy did his damage in the post and on the offensive glass. When the third quarter ended Putnam’s lead was down to 49-47.
McCarthy, a sophomore, finished with 11 points for the Blue Devils.
Elijah Davis carried Northampton’s offense in the first half. Davis finished with 11 points for the Blue Devils.
Northampton faced one of the best players in the region in Taelon Martin. Will O’Connor did a good job muscling the sophomore for most of the game, keeping him away from the rim.
McCarthy spent some time on Martin as well. Martin had 15 points, mostly on jumpers.
Jalen Bruce’s outside game was Putnam’s strongest option. He had 15 points for the Beavers.
Northampton 67, Putnam 53
Putnam (10-11)
Foster 2-0-5, Bruce 7-0-15, McCoy 5-0-10, Jernigan 1-0-4, Martin 7-2-17, Johnson 0-2-2. Totals 22-4-53
Northampton (15-6)
Doherty 6-2-16, Heafey 2-2-6, Davis 4-5-13, Grygorcewicz 4-2-13, O’Connor 1-0-2, McCarthy 4-3-11, Thurston 2-0-6, Bredin 0-0-0, Corrada-Mattei 0-0-0. Totals 23-14-67
|
Putnam |
16 |
21 |
12 |
4 |
—53 |
|
Northampton |
14 |
15 |
18 |
20 |
—67 |
3-Pointers—Putnam 4 (Foster, Bruce, Jernigan Martin) Northampton 7 (Doherty 2, Grygorcewicz 3, Thurston 2)
