WEST SPRINGFIELD — Meikkel Murray will get his moment for scoring 1,000 points for the Amherst Regional boys basketball team — the pictures with family, the celebratory moments with teammates and coaches.
It just didn’t happen on the night when he hit quadruple-digits.
In a 72-64 loss to West Springfield Tuesday, Murray got to the rim with five seconds left to become the first Amherst boy since Bayete Gordon in 1999 to accomplishment the milestone for the Hurricanes.
Murray did it in three years for the Hurricanes, and did it with athleticism and relentless effort getting to the basket.
“It’s a great accomplishment,” Murray said. “It would been a different situation in a win.”
Hurricanes coach Jim Matuszko called a timeout and Murray went to the bench. But there were no high-fives or congratulations.
The focus was on the game and the impending loss for the Hurricanes. Nobody even knew he had scored 1,000 until after the game when Murray consulted with the scorer’s table.
“We have a senior night on Friday,” Murray said. “I wanted to get it there but it didn’t work out. I wanted it at home with my family.”
The Hurricanes have plans to celebrate the feat at Friday’s home game against East Longmeadow, which is also senior night.
With most players playing only three years for Amherst, the 1,000-point milestone has become rare. The club only has three other members — Jeff Osborne, Matt Garvey and Gordon.
“I think he wanted to get it at home,” Matuszko said. “He started as a sophomore and played a lot. The talent level we have dictates that freshmen rarely play.”
As Murray left the court a fan yelled his name, leading Murray to stop and wave. There were next to no Amherst fans at the game.
Tajahn Joyner scored 11 points for the Hurricanes, and Meikyle Murray, Meikkel’s brother, added 13.
The Terriers lost to the Hurricanes by 20 earlier in the season. But from the start, West Springfield showed Amherst there would not be a repeat of the first game.
Nicholas Muche (19 points) opened the game with three 3-pointers and 13 first-quarter points.
Sharown Fowler’s 18 points came at opportune moments with Amherst making runs.
At the beginning of the second quarter, Amherst put together a 9-0 run to tie the game at 22.
Fowler answered the run with 11 points in the quarter to give West Side a 38-29 halftime lead.
The Terriers floor-spacing presented a problem for the Hurricanes, as it negated their size advantage.
“We couldn’t play Seth Bella-Hunter as much because he didn’t have anyone to guard,” Matuszko said. “They can shoot.”
Bella-Hunter scored eight points for Amherst.
Zach Hall’s four-point play gave the Terriers a 67-58 lead with a minute left in the game.
