Boys basketball: Granby pulls off rally for the ages, stuns Drury in OT to capture PVIAC Class C title (PHOTOS)

Granby's Gavier Fernandez, center, controls the ball during the PVIAC Class C tournament championship against Drury at Westfield High School, Saturday, Feb. 22, 2025, in Westfield.

Granby's Gavier Fernandez, center, controls the ball during the PVIAC Class C tournament championship against Drury at Westfield High School, Saturday, Feb. 22, 2025, in Westfield. STAFF PHOTO / DANIEL JACOBI II—

Granby's Cody White (23) dribbles into a Drury defender during the PVIAC Class C tournament championship at Westfield High School, Saturday, Feb. 22, 2025, in Westfield.

Granby's Cody White (23) dribbles into a Drury defender during the PVIAC Class C tournament championship at Westfield High School, Saturday, Feb. 22, 2025, in Westfield. STAFF PHOTO / DANIEL JACOBI II—

Granby Head Coach Dylan Dubuc, center, speaks to the team after winning the PVIAC Class C tournament championship game against Drury 62-60 in overtime at Westfield High School, Saturday, Feb. 22, 2025, in Westfield.

Granby Head Coach Dylan Dubuc, center, speaks to the team after winning the PVIAC Class C tournament championship game against Drury 62-60 in overtime at Westfield High School, Saturday, Feb. 22, 2025, in Westfield. STAFF PHOTO / DANIEL JACOBI II—

The Granby locker room celebrates and tosses water onto Head Coach Dylan Dubuc, right, while wearing a poncho after winning the PVIAC Class C tournament championship game against Drury 62-60 in overtime at Westfield High School, Saturday, Feb. 22, 2025, in Westfield.

The Granby locker room celebrates and tosses water onto Head Coach Dylan Dubuc, right, while wearing a poncho after winning the PVIAC Class C tournament championship game against Drury 62-60 in overtime at Westfield High School, Saturday, Feb. 22, 2025, in Westfield. STAFF PHOTO / DANIEL JACOBI II—

Granby's Gavier Fernandez (5) points for Granby possession after a play during the PVIAC Class C tournament championship against Drury at Westfield High School, Saturday, Feb. 22, 2025, in Westfield.

Granby's Gavier Fernandez (5) points for Granby possession after a play during the PVIAC Class C tournament championship against Drury at Westfield High School, Saturday, Feb. 22, 2025, in Westfield. STAFF PHOTO / DANIEL JACOBI II—

Granby Head Coach Dylan Dubuc watches a play during the PVIAC Class C tournament championship against Drury at Westfield High School, Saturday, Feb. 22, 2025, in Westfield.

Granby Head Coach Dylan Dubuc watches a play during the PVIAC Class C tournament championship against Drury at Westfield High School, Saturday, Feb. 22, 2025, in Westfield. STAFF PHOTO / DANIEL JACOBI II—

Granby Head Coach Dylan Dubuc talks to the team during the PVIAC Class C tournament championship against Drury at Westfield High School, Saturday, Feb. 22, 2025, in Westfield.

Granby Head Coach Dylan Dubuc talks to the team during the PVIAC Class C tournament championship against Drury at Westfield High School, Saturday, Feb. 22, 2025, in Westfield. STAFF PHOTO / DANIEL JACOBI II—

Granby's Cody Breault (2) attempts a three-point shot during the PVIAC Class C tournament championship against Drury at Westfield High School, Saturday, Feb. 22, 2025, in Westfield.

Granby's Cody Breault (2) attempts a three-point shot during the PVIAC Class C tournament championship against Drury at Westfield High School, Saturday, Feb. 22, 2025, in Westfield. STAFF PHOTO / DANIEL JACOBI II—

Granby's Gavier Fernandez (5) attempts a shot during the PVIAC Class C tournament championship against Drury at Westfield High School, Saturday, Feb. 22, 2025, in Westfield.

Granby's Gavier Fernandez (5) attempts a shot during the PVIAC Class C tournament championship against Drury at Westfield High School, Saturday, Feb. 22, 2025, in Westfield. STAFF PHOTO / DANIEL JACOBI II—

Granby's Gavier Fernandez celebrates a play during the PVIAC Class C tournament championship against Drury at Westfield High School, Saturday, Feb. 22, 2025, in Westfield.

Granby's Gavier Fernandez celebrates a play during the PVIAC Class C tournament championship against Drury at Westfield High School, Saturday, Feb. 22, 2025, in Westfield. STAFF PHOTO / DANIEL JACOBI II—

Granby's Gavier Fernandez (5) looks at the scoreboard during the PVIAC Class C tournament championship against Drury at Westfield High School, Saturday, Feb. 22, 2025, in Westfield.

Granby's Gavier Fernandez (5) looks at the scoreboard during the PVIAC Class C tournament championship against Drury at Westfield High School, Saturday, Feb. 22, 2025, in Westfield. STAFF PHOTO / DANIEL JACOBI II—

Granby's Gavier Fernandez, second from right, attempts to push through a group of Drury players during the PVIAC Class C tournament championship at Westfield High School, Saturday, Feb. 22, 2025, in Westfield.

Granby's Gavier Fernandez, second from right, attempts to push through a group of Drury players during the PVIAC Class C tournament championship at Westfield High School, Saturday, Feb. 22, 2025, in Westfield. STAFF PHOTO / DANIEL JACOBI II—

Granby's Raymond D. Colon (11) yells after losing control of the ball during the PVIAC Class C tournament championship against Drury at Westfield High School, Saturday, Feb. 22, 2025, in Westfield.

Granby's Raymond D. Colon (11) yells after losing control of the ball during the PVIAC Class C tournament championship against Drury at Westfield High School, Saturday, Feb. 22, 2025, in Westfield. STAFF PHOTO / DANIEL JACOBI II—

Granby's Riley Goodhind (1) and Drury's Sam Bullet (23) jump for a pass during the PVIAC Class C tournament championship at Westfield High School, Saturday, Feb. 22, 2025, in Westfield.

Granby's Riley Goodhind (1) and Drury's Sam Bullet (23) jump for a pass during the PVIAC Class C tournament championship at Westfield High School, Saturday, Feb. 22, 2025, in Westfield. STAFF PHOTO / DANIEL JACOBI II—

Granby's Gavier Fernandez (5) attempts to dribble around Drury's Sam Moorman, left, during the PVIAC Class C tournament championship at Westfield High School, Saturday, Feb. 22, 2025, in Westfield.

Granby's Gavier Fernandez (5) attempts to dribble around Drury's Sam Moorman, left, during the PVIAC Class C tournament championship at Westfield High School, Saturday, Feb. 22, 2025, in Westfield. STAFF PHOTO / DANIEL JACOBI II—

Granby's Gavier Fernandez attempts a layup during the PVIAC Class C tournament championship against Drury at Westfield High School, Saturday, Feb. 22, 2025, in Westfield.

Granby's Gavier Fernandez attempts a layup during the PVIAC Class C tournament championship against Drury at Westfield High School, Saturday, Feb. 22, 2025, in Westfield. STAFF PHOTO / DANIEL JACOBI II—

Granby's Cody White (23) scrambles to pass the ball to Sawyer Clarke, left, during the PVIAC Class C tournament championship against Drury at Westfield High School, Saturday, Feb. 22, 2025, in Westfield.

Granby's Cody White (23) scrambles to pass the ball to Sawyer Clarke, left, during the PVIAC Class C tournament championship against Drury at Westfield High School, Saturday, Feb. 22, 2025, in Westfield. STAFF PHOTO / DANIEL JACOBI II—

Granby's Gavin Moreno, right, argues a call during the PVIAC Class C tournament championship against Drury at Westfield High School, Saturday, Feb. 22, 2025, in Westfield.

Granby's Gavin Moreno, right, argues a call during the PVIAC Class C tournament championship against Drury at Westfield High School, Saturday, Feb. 22, 2025, in Westfield. STAFF PHOTO / DANIEL JACOBI II—

Granby's Sawyer Clarke (0) attempts a shot over Drury's Sam Moorman (21) during the PVIAC Class C tournament championship at Westfield High School, Saturday, Feb. 22, 2025, in Westfield.

Granby's Sawyer Clarke (0) attempts a shot over Drury's Sam Moorman (21) during the PVIAC Class C tournament championship at Westfield High School, Saturday, Feb. 22, 2025, in Westfield. STAFF PHOTO / DANIEL JACOBI II—

Granby's Gavier Fernandez (5) and Riley Goodhind (1) celebrate after a play during the PVIAC Class C tournament championship against Drury at Westfield High School, Saturday, Feb. 22, 2025, in Westfield.

Granby's Gavier Fernandez (5) and Riley Goodhind (1) celebrate after a play during the PVIAC Class C tournament championship against Drury at Westfield High School, Saturday, Feb. 22, 2025, in Westfield. STAFF PHOTO / DANIEL JACOBI II—

Granby's Raymond D. Colon (11) before the beginning of overtime during the PVIAC Class C tournament championship against Drury at Westfield High School, Saturday, Feb. 22, 2025, in Westfield.

Granby's Raymond D. Colon (11) before the beginning of overtime during the PVIAC Class C tournament championship against Drury at Westfield High School, Saturday, Feb. 22, 2025, in Westfield. STAFF PHOTO / DANIEL JACOBI II—

Granby's Gavier Fernandez (5) attempts a layup during the PVIAC Class C tournament championship against Drury at Westfield High School, Saturday, Feb. 22, 2025, in Westfield.

Granby's Gavier Fernandez (5) attempts a layup during the PVIAC Class C tournament championship against Drury at Westfield High School, Saturday, Feb. 22, 2025, in Westfield. STAFF PHOTO / DANIEL JACOBI II—

Granby's Gavier Fernandez, back, talks to Raymond D. Colon, front, before an and-one free throw attempt that would give the team a one-point lead during overtime of the PVIAC Class C tournament championship against Drury at Westfield High School, Saturday, Feb. 22, 2025, in Westfield.

Granby's Gavier Fernandez, back, talks to Raymond D. Colon, front, before an and-one free throw attempt that would give the team a one-point lead during overtime of the PVIAC Class C tournament championship against Drury at Westfield High School, Saturday, Feb. 22, 2025, in Westfield. STAFF PHOTO / DANIEL JACOBI II—

Granby's Cody White, right, attempts a layup during the PVIAC Class C tournament championship against Drury at Westfield High School, Saturday, Feb. 22, 2025, in Westfield.

Granby's Cody White, right, attempts a layup during the PVIAC Class C tournament championship against Drury at Westfield High School, Saturday, Feb. 22, 2025, in Westfield. STAFF PHOTO / DANIEL JACOBI II—

Granby's Raymond D. Colon (11) attempts a free throw during the PVIAC Class C tournament championship against Drury at Westfield High School, Saturday, Feb. 22, 2025, in Westfield. Eventually scoring, the shot would give the team a one-point lead with 5.8 seconds left in overtime.

Granby's Raymond D. Colon (11) attempts a free throw during the PVIAC Class C tournament championship against Drury at Westfield High School, Saturday, Feb. 22, 2025, in Westfield. Eventually scoring, the shot would give the team a one-point lead with 5.8 seconds left in overtime. STAFF PHOTO / DANIEL JACOBI II—

Granby's Gavier Fernandez, right, autographs a pice of plexiglass taped to a camera after winning the PVIAC Class C tournament championship game against Drury 62-60 in overtime at Westfield High School, Saturday, Feb. 22, 2025, in Westfield.

Granby's Gavier Fernandez, right, autographs a pice of plexiglass taped to a camera after winning the PVIAC Class C tournament championship game against Drury 62-60 in overtime at Westfield High School, Saturday, Feb. 22, 2025, in Westfield. STAFF PHOTO / DANIEL JACOBI II—

Granby's Gavier Fernandez, left, and Riley Goodhind, right, hug after forcing a turnover during overtime of the PVIAC Class C tournament championship against Drury at Westfield High School, Saturday, Feb. 22, 2025, in Westfield.

Granby's Gavier Fernandez, left, and Riley Goodhind, right, hug after forcing a turnover during overtime of the PVIAC Class C tournament championship against Drury at Westfield High School, Saturday, Feb. 22, 2025, in Westfield. STAFF PHOTO / DANIEL JACOBI II—

Granby's Raymond D. Colon, back, and Riley Goodhind, front, hug after winning the PVIAC Class C tournament championship game against Drury 62-60 in overtime at Westfield High School, Saturday, Feb. 22, 2025, in Westfield.

Granby's Raymond D. Colon, back, and Riley Goodhind, front, hug after winning the PVIAC Class C tournament championship game against Drury 62-60 in overtime at Westfield High School, Saturday, Feb. 22, 2025, in Westfield. STAFF PHOTO / DANIEL JACOBI II—

Granby's Sawyer Clarke (0) holds the plaque after winning the PVIAC Class C tournament championship game against Drury 62-60 in overtime at Westfield High School, Saturday, Feb. 22, 2025, in Westfield.

Granby's Sawyer Clarke (0) holds the plaque after winning the PVIAC Class C tournament championship game against Drury 62-60 in overtime at Westfield High School, Saturday, Feb. 22, 2025, in Westfield. STAFF PHOTO / DANIEL JACOBI II—

By GARRETT COTE

Staff Writer

Published: 02-22-2025 10:31 PM

Modified: 02-23-2025 1:57 AM

WESTFIELD — It will go down as the greatest comeback in Granby boys basketball program history.

Trailing by nine points with over a minute remaining in regulation, the Rams were staring at a loss in the PVIAC Class C final for the second straight season. But they had other plans.

“We had to stick together,” Granby senior Riley Goodhind said. “That’s what we’ve done all season. Even when we’re down, we stick together.”

That’s exactly what the Rams did.

They ripped off a 12-3 run – Drury going 1-for-its-last-8 from the free throw line fueling the charge – to knot the game at 55 with 20 seconds to go after Goodhind banked home an acrobatic layup to pull even. Neither team scored in the waning moments of the fourth quarter and the game went to an extra session.

The Blue Devils built a 60-58 advantage and were once again in the driver’s seat as time ticked under 15 seconds. Granby’s Raymond Colon caught the ball in the corner, ripped through and drove baseline. A Drury defender tried to undercut him to take a charge, but he was late. Colon flipped a circus shot up while crashing to the floor, and it somehow fell through – making it 60-60 with 5.8 seconds left.

All four other Rams players surrounded Colon on the ground, and the senior swished the subsequent free throw through pulsating screams from the Drury crowd. Granby earned a stop on the other end, NeNe Fernandez made an insurance free throw and Granby pulled out one of the most improbable victories across the state this season – a 62-60 win.

The Rams raised their first Western Mass. crown since 2005.

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“It’s hard to put into words,” Rams head coach Dylan Dubuc said postgame. “That was the craziest game I’ve ever been a part of. But it’s like almost fitting for this group. We talk about it all the time, facing adversity, playing 32 minutes, never giving up, sticking together. And it took every bit of the 32 minutes and then some.”

Prior to the last minute and change, Drury was a stellar 15-for-16 from the charity stripe in the fourth quarter alone – and 23-for-28 for the game. Granby had no choice but to foul in an attempt to extend the game. Fernandez and Goodhind made consecutive layups to get within five, 52-47, before the Rams committed a foul. Zane Kaley swished both free throws to put Drury back up seven. The Blue Devils would only make one free throw the rest of regulation.

Sawyer Clarke put home a layup in the paint on the next Granby possession, then Kaley missed two shots at the line. One more Fernandez basket made it 54-51 still with 40 seconds to go. After Drury went 1-for-2 on its following trip, Fernandez was fouled and cashed in his free ones.

Another empty possession at the line ensued for the Blue Devils. Granby rebounded, found Goodhind on an outlet pass, and the senior guard did the rest.

He flew in for two to send the Rams faithful into a frenzy, as he capped off a nine-point comeback in 1 minute, 20 seconds.

“Guys stepped up, made some plays and believed in each other,” Dubuc said. “Of course a couple missed free throws and breaks on the other side helped, but that’s the game of basketball. I don’t know, it’s hard to put into words. I can’t be more proud of this group.”

Despite the seismic shift in momentum, the game hadn’t been won just yet. Granby had four more minutes of business to handle. The start of the overtime period went to plan, with Clarke scoring inside and Goodhind making a free throw on the Rams’ first two possessions. But Drury responded with five straight points and the Blue Devils jumped in front 60-58.

That set the stage for Colon’s heroics.

“’Holy cow, what a play. That actually went in?’” Dubuc said when asked what went through his mind after Colon put Granby ahead. “And then I was looking at time and score, what we had to do defensively. But let me tell you this, when [Colon] came in last year during tryouts, he was attacking the hoop, knocking down 3s and scoring like that all the time. So to see him do it is not surprising, and he’s tough. The moment is not going to get to that kid at any point.”

Drury still had one final chance to right all of its wrongs. Jack Recette, the Blue Devils head coach, called timeout as his team advanced the ball into the frontcourt with four seconds left. On the inbounds pass, Drury lobbed it over the top to Moorman on the baseline. Fernandez stuck his hands in and forced a jump ball, and the alternating possession arrow favored the Rams.

The game was all but over with less than two seconds left. Fernandez drew a foul, made one free throw, missed the next, but Drury was unable to get a shot off in time.

“It was big, because at that moment I knew we won,” Fernandez said of his clutch defensive play. “The last two years at Granby have been amazing. I wouldn’t want to ball with anyone other than these guys. I love them.”

A team-high 17 points belonged to Fernandez, Clarke had one of his best games of the season at the right time as he scored 16 points, Colon added 13 and Cody White scored all eight of his points in the first 10 minutes to help get the Rams off on the right foot.

Granby will graduate nine seniors at the end of the season. After suffering a heartbreaking loss in the 2024 Class C final to Mahar, the Rams not only knocked off the Senators in the semifinals to get their revenge, they finished the job by getting a Western Mass. championship of their own.

The veteran leadership came up huge in a game where the Rams faced more adversity than they had the rest of the season combined.

“I’ve never had such a big senior class before, but this group is very special,” Dubuc said. “These guys are super close. They love each other, they play for each other and they fight for each other. They battle. It’s a special group, and it’s going to be hard to replace these guys.”

Granby (17-4) is the No. 3 seed in the MIAA Division 5 tournament and will host the winner of No. 30 Bartlett and No. 35 Brooke Charter in the Round of 32 on a date and time to be announced.