NORTH ADAMS, Mass. -- The North Adams fifth- and sixth-grade boys travel basketball team won the Berkshire County South Division championship over the weekend by avenging its only loss of the tournament.

 

North Adams started its weekend by beating Sheffield before losing, 39-22 to Pittsfield’s Catholic Youth Center. It came back to beat the Lenox Gold and earn a shot at the title and a rematch against CYC.

 

In the title game, CYC bounced back from an early 9-0 deficit to go ahead 20-9.

 

“Unlike the [first] game, these kids showed tremendous hearts, unbelievable composure and never gave up,” North Adams coach Pete Prieto said. “We ended up down 13 before we started to battle back.”

 

In the fourth quarter, Troy Tassone hit a pair of big 3-pointers and a mid-range shot to spur the comeback. Tassone, who did not score more than eight in a game all season, came up big when it counted most, Prieto said.

 

North Adams still trailed by three with 57 seconds left when Logan Rogers got a steal at the baseline and passed upcourt to Jacob Howland. Howland pushed the ball toward the hole and and found Rogers trailing on the right wing.

 

Rogers pulled up and hit a game-tying 3 with 40 seconds on the clock, and the game went to overtime.

 

In OT, North Adams outscored CYC, 12-2, to win, 44-34.

 

Tassone, Howland and Rogers led North Adams’ offense. Walter Mazza scored eight points and grabbed 15 rebounds.

 

The North Adams roster includes: Jacob Howland, Walter Mazza, Troy Tassone, Logan Rogers, James Varellas, Zach Gelinas, Caleb Denette, Ethan Denette, Ryan Patenaude, Chris Eichorn, Carson Mills, Cam Bostwick and Seth Barton.