PITTSFIELD - A second-period injury to St. Joseph’s goaltender Andrew Leitch overshadowed a Wahconah 8-1 win over the Crusaders on Wednesday night at the Boys’ and Girls’ Club.
Leitch, a senior, was injured with 7:25 left in the second period after a collision while making a save. The game was stopped for approximately 30 minutes while EMTs and coaches tended to him. He was taken out on a stretcher with what appeared to be a neck injury, though Crusaders coach Tim Kelly said the stretcher was a precaution and "the immediate thoughts are" that Leitch will be OK.
"I’m not sure about the neck, but I think his back was sore," Kelly said. "They were saying it was just precautionary, which is a good move."
Wahconah (2-0) led 2-0 at the time of the injury, and scored four times in the second against backup Spenser Tanner.
Ryan Ouimet scored four times - three in the second period - and added an assist for the two-time defending Hennessy League champion Warriors.
"He’s been working a lot in the preseason on taking more shots," Wahconah coach Don Disbrow said of Ouimet. "He’s been picking corners and roofing some pucks from the slot. I think his shot’s harder and more accurate this year."
Still, Disbrow says the Warriors have plenty to work on, even after two big Hennessy League wins to start the season.
"I thought we were rusty overall in terms of our passing," he
"We’re certainly going to need to clean that up before Saturday night [against West Springfield]."
Roger Steadman was solid in net for the Warriors. Leitch made 19 saves, 12 in the first period, before his injury.
McCann boys’ basketball
NORTH ADAMS -- It started out promising for McCann Tech, but didn’t finish that way as Lenox defeated the Hornets, 49-29 on Wednesday night.
In their first game under the direction of coach Mike Nykorchuck, the Hornets sprinted out to a 10-3 first quarter lead, but that wouldn’t last long.
"In the first half we were nice and patient and strong with the ball. We were hitting our baskets," Nykorchuck said. "All game we played a good defensive game. In the second [half], it was like we were playing too fast."
Lenox’s Ben Herrick took over in the second half, scoring 17 of his game-high 20 points. The Millionaires outscored the Hornets 23-9 in the fourth quarter to get the victory.
McCann was plagued by 23 turnovers and was out-rebounded 44-27.
"Lenox just played a very good second half," Nykorchuck said. "They started slow, but came back."
MCLA women’s basketball
NORTHAMPTON -- The MCLA women’s basketball team wrapped up their fall semester with a 77-46 loss at the hands of Smith College. The Trailblazers were plagued by a season-high 33 turnovers as they drop to 5-4 overall.
Smith took advantage of the generosity by the Trailblazers. The Pioneers held a 31-11 edge in points off turnovers on the night.
The hosts used a powerful run at the end of the first half, as well as the start of the second to seize control. With the score tied at 11, Smith outscored MCLA 20-4 the remainder of the first half to take a 31-15 lead into the locker room. Any thoughts of a Trailblazer comeback were quickly dashed as the second half began.
Smith scored the first seven points to stretch the lead to 23 and never looked back. MCLA was never within 20 points again.
MCLA was led by Lucy Tremblay’s 18 points, although she was just 6 of 21 from the floor.
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