TURNERS FALLS — The Granby girls basketball team couldn’t solve the Turners Falls defense on Monday in the opening round of the Western Mass. Class D tournament.
The host No. 4 Thunder held the No. 5 Rams to just two points in the first quarter, giving Turners the early advantage. The Thunder then outscored Granby 19-2 in the third quarter to take complete control of the game, leading to a 47-12 victory.
Turners moves onto the semifinals where it’ll face No. 1 Hoosac Valley on Wednesday. The Hurricanes defeated Smith Academy 66-2 on Monday.
“We’ve always said you win basketball games because of defense,” Thunder coach Jim Cadran said. “That’s our thing and we played great defense.We keep track of tipped balls on defense. We take pride in that. You don’t have to steal it but someone else will get it. Our girls did that up top tonight and caused havoc. We defended their center the way we wanted and played great team defense.”
It was a second half to remember for Turners (14-5). Leading 17-7 at the half, Taylor Greene got Turners going with an early bucket.
Sienna Hill responded with a basket for the Rams (2-17) but it would be their final of the frame, with Turners closing the quarter on a 17-0 run that eventually became a 24-0 run with the Thunder scoring the opening seven points of the fourth quarter to take a 43-9 lead midway through the fourth.
“You can’t turn the ball over and expect to be in a game like that,” Granby coach Mike Afflitto said. “Some of them were on us but we have to credit Turners for putting us in positions we didn’t want to be in. If you’re going to turn the ball over like that you aren’t going to win many games.”
Madi Liimatainen converted a 3-point play to put Turners ahead, 22-9, early in the third quarter. Liimatainen then drained a 3, Abi Holloway scored down low, Taylor Greene knocked down a midrange shot, Holloway put another in inside, Liimatainen got to the rim for two and Greene swished a 3 and suddenly the third quarter had come to a close with Turners leading, 36-9.
“In the first quarter, our shots weren’t going down and I’m thinking if we make half those shots this game will be over,” Cadran said. “I told the girls that they just had to keep shooting them. I think they were a little nervous early and were a little flat footed. We started moving the ball and cutting. They played a great game.”
The Thunder kept the run going into the fourth quarter. Liimatainen converted another 3-point play, Holloway scored inside and Emily Young made a jumper before Ram Sophia Gagnon made a free throw with 4:23 left to halt the 24-0 scoring run.
Young and Holloway then made baskets and Gagnon closed out the game with a made shot for Granby.
“We won the league which we’re proud of that,” Cadran said. “We got in the Western Mass. tournament and won a game against a good team. We’re taking the next step. Our next game will be a tough one.”
Gagnon scored the opening basket of the game for Granby at the 6:30 mark of the first quarter. It would be the final bucket the Rams had for the next 10 minutes of game action, with Turners going on a 15-0 run to take control of the game.
Greene drained a pair from just inside the arc while Liimatainen sunk a 3 to give the Thunder a 7-2 lead at the end of the first quarter.
Holloway took over the game early in the second quarter for Turners, scoring the opening six points of the frame. Young then knocked down a jumper to give the Thunder a 15-2 lead.
Gagnon halted the run with a corner 3. Holloway then made a pair of free throws and KC Curran scored down low for Granby to cut the Turners lead to 17-7 at the half.
Holloway led Turners with 16 points in the win. Liimatainen scored 14 points, Greene had nine points and Young put in six points in the victory.
Gagnon scored eight of the Rams 12 points, with Granby turning its attention to its final non-playoff game which has yet to be scheduled before waiting to hear if it makes the state tournament.
“We have to turn the page,” Afflitto said. “We have one more game, we don’t know if we’ll end up in the state tournament but we’ll prepare for the 20th game, try to put out a better product than we did tonight then see where they chips fall.”