HADLEY — When Hopkins Academy and Mount Everett faced off earlier this season, neither team likely imagined they’d meet again in the Western Massachusetts Division 4 girls basketball championship with history on the line.
Last year, Mount Everett was knocked out of the tournament as the No. 5 seed by No. 1 Monson in the semifinal round. This year as the No. 4 seed, the Eagles upset No. 1 Monson, 61-50, in Monday’s semifinal to make it to Saturday’s final.
Meanwhile, Hopkins is coming off a season in which they missed out on qualifying for the tournament entirely. In a one-year turnaround with a first-year coach and an ideal collection of talent and experience, the Golden Hawks grew throughout the season and peaked in time for a postseason run.
Both are looking to secure their first Western Mass. championship in school history. The team’s meet at 10:45 a.m. at UMass’ Curry Hicks Cage.
“Obviously we’re two different teams,” Hopkins coach Michael Prattico said. “I was there the other night and I saw a lot of good things that Mount Everett does. We’re different as well.”
Mount Everett won the Dec. 7 matchup 44-38 after jumping out to an early lead and pulling away in the fourth quarter to prevent a Hopkins comeback in Hadley. The biggest factor that Prattico sees as being the difference between the two games is defense.
Although the Golden Hawks have become accustomed to winning games on the strength of their high-scoring offense and zone defense scheme, their developed versatility on both ends of the court is what may decide the title game.
“There’s a lot of things that we do different,” Prattico said. “We use our half-court game more and we’re still able to get out and run. We’re utilizing our presses more and then just defensively being able to play man-to-man, just matching up has been tremendous for us. I expect a tough game and a battle.”
In the teams’ first matchup, Gwendolyn Carpenter and Madison Ullrich each had 19 points apiece, with the duo combining to hit 16 free throws. Carpenter recently became Berkshire County’s career scoring leader with more than 2,000 points, making trying to stop her a difficult task for any team.
“They’re so talented that you can’t take them out of the game completely,” Prattico said. “Carpenter is a tremendous facilitator for her team and makes everyone around her better. We’ll try to limit her and take away as much as we can, but the other girls around her are just as talented.”
Samantha Jenks and Allison Kowal-Safron were around to experience the Golden Hawks’ most recent run to the semifinal round in 2015. Given their experience, the two have been a steady leadership presence for the Hawks.
“It’s been tremendous just to have the leadership that those two girls have and the experience that they have,” Prattico said. “They’re just talking to the girls that, yeah it’s an exciting moment and obviously having a chance to be a Western Mass. champion is a great opportunity, but at the same time just letting their teammates know that it’s just a game.”
The Golden Hawks are appearing in their first Western Mass. championship since 2005 and their sixth all time. They lost their last three appearances by a combined seven points.
“These opportunities don’t happen often,” Prattico said. “If you can appreciate it and take this in and just enjoy the moment, I think that’s the biggest thing we’re trying to preach right now. Just have fun and enjoy the moment and our skills will do the talking and take over.”