Drury Boys Basketball Wins Berkshire County League Title, 65-56 Over Hoosac Valley

CHESHIRE, Mass. – The Drury High School boys basketball team secured the Berkshire County League title Friday night with a hard-fought 65-56 victory over Hoosac Valley, overcoming a physical contest and a mid-game injury to star player Jorge Bond. The win, achieved on the road, improves Drury’s record to 15-2 and marks their first league championship since 1962, according to supplementary reporting.

Bond led all scorers with 32 points, while senior Connor Hinkell contributed a significant 20 points, demonstrating a balanced offensive effort for the Blue Devils. The victory was made more complex by an unexpected upset in another league game: Taconic’s 60-47 defeat of Pittsfield. This result handed Drury the league crown, as both teams entered the final night of league play with identical records.

The game at Hoosac Valley began with an early surge from the home team, who jumped to a 4-0 lead and energized the crowd with aggressive play. Drury quickly responded, initiating a 9-0 run sparked by a three-pointer from Brayden Durant and an acrobatic and-one play by Hinkell. This shift in momentum gave Drury an early lead, but Hoosac Valley closed the first quarter strongly, regaining the advantage with back-to-back three-pointers from Adan Wicks and Qwanell Bradley, ending the period with a 12-11 lead.

Drury coach Jack Racette emphasized the need to “grind it out” on the road, acknowledging Hoosac Valley’s dominance on the boards. “We made plays when we had to, and I thought we dug in defensively for the most part, but they annihilated us on the boards,” Racette said. “When we rebounded, we were able to get out in the open court, and that helped us down the stretch.”

The second quarter saw Drury increase the pace, with Bond hitting consecutive three-pointers to establish a five-point cushion. Hoosac Valley remained competitive, continuing to battle for offensive rebounds. Hinkell continued to be a key offensive force, adding another and-one to extend Drury’s lead. The quarter concluded with the teams tied at 24-24 after a physical and closely contested first half.

The third quarter witnessed Hinkell continuing his strong performance, scoring on an out-of-bounds play for another and-one. However, Bond sustained an eye injury midway through the quarter, briefly leaving Drury without its leading scorer. Hoosac Valley capitalized, regaining the lead with a series of baskets, including an and-one from Bradley and a full-court play culminating in a basket from Terrell Johnson. The quarter saw several lead changes and intensified physical play, with Drury taking a narrow 42-39 lead into the final period.

The fourth quarter proved decisive. Drury leaned heavily on Hinkell inside, while Bond, despite his injury, reasserted himself with a three-pointer and a strong drive to the basket, extending Drury’s lead to 53-45 with under three minutes remaining. A pivotal moment occurred when Hoosac Valley committed a foul in transition, followed by a technical foul, awarding Drury four free throws and pushing their lead to 56-45. A three-pointer from JJ Prenguber with 1:42 left sealed the victory for Drury.

Hinkell’s performance was particularly lauded by Racette. “Connor Hinkell had a huge game. That’s senior leadership right there,” he stated. “I think we showed tonight we can win in different ways. We hung around and did what we had to do on the road. Jorge took a pretty good shot to the eye, but he toughed it out, and it was just a good win away from home.”

Drury (15-2) has now won seven consecutive games and 15 of its last 16. They will host Pioneer Valley in their final regular-season game on Senior Night. Hoosac Valley (9-8) will look to rebound when they face Veritas Prep Charter, following a week that saw them drop back-to-back close games at home.

The win secures Drury’s position as the top-ranked team in the commonwealth in Division 5 and sets them up for a strong push in the upcoming state tournament. While the Berkshire League title is a significant achievement, Racette emphasized that the team’s ultimate goals lie in March, referring to the state championships.