North Adams wins inaugural Coach Young Classic
By Colin Ryan
HCP sports reporter
After the final game of the inaugural Coach Young Classic at North Adams High School, North Adams head coach Nathan Copas said the team honored the late coach with their 62-45 victory over the South Webster Jeeps, Saturday night.
"It means a lot to win," Copas said. "We set this tournament up to honor Dave Young. The best way to honor him is to win."
The Green Devils of North Adams hosted the Jeeps in the sixth and final game of the Coach Young Classic, which was also their first game of the season.
Though the Jeeps had first possession, North Adams was first to score as senior Blake Bradley recovered the ball. Bradley finished with 24 points in the game. He connected on 10 field goals, including one 3-pointer, to go with three free throws.
After the first quarter, the game was tied 10-10, as Shane Zimmerman drained a pair of 3-pointers for the Jeeps.
With 6:49 left in the second frame, South Webster called their first timeout with the score 12-10 in favor of North Adams. From that point, the Green Devils went on a 15-10 run to close the half. Bradley, Aaron Pertuset, Cole Meade, Hank Sparks, Mikey Sheeley and Brandon Gingerich all scored for North Adams in the second quarter alone.
By the 1:09 mark of the second, North Adams called their first timeout, holding a 25-18 lead.
The first half of the game ended with the Green Devils leading, 27-20, and from that point, North Adams held their lead the remainder of the game.
Zimmerman and Elijah Ruark combined for 11 South Webster points in the third period to keep the game close. However, Bradley and Pertuset countered with 11 points for the home team in the same quarter.
South Webster called a timeout with three minutes left in the third with the score 38-27. North Adams took a timeout late in the quarter with the lead at 38-32. The quarter ended with a 42-32 lead for the Green Devils.
Hank Sparks scored nine of his 12 points in the fourth quarter, as North Adams closed the game – and the final of six varsity basketball games – on a 20-13 run.
With 1:27 remaining, Bradley went to the free-throw line for North Adams and made both shots, extending the lead to 60-42. Bradley exited the game after his second shot to a rousing ovation.
Shane Zimmerman led South Webster with 17 points – including five 3-pointers, followed by Elijah Ruark with 15 points, nine of which came from beyond the arc.
Bradley and Sparks paced North Adams with 24 and 12 points, respectively. Pertuset finished with eight and Gingerich added six points.
Score by quarters
SWHS – 10 10 12 13 – 45
NAHS – 10 17 15 20 – 62
North Adams (62) – Aaron Pertuset 2-1-1-8; Blake Bradley 9-1-3-24; Braxton McFarland 0-0-0; Caleb Wagers 0-0-0; Isaiah Anderson 1-1-3; Mikey Sheeley 1-1-3; Hank Sparks 2-2-2-12; Devin Gardner 0-0-0; Brandon Gingerich 3-0-6; Christian Bradford 0-2-2; Trey Meade 0-0-0; Cole Meade 2-0-4.