SPRINGFIELD, Mass. ---- Despite 22 points from Rael Handy and a double-double from Mark Munroe, the Massasoit men's basketball team fell to Bunker Hill, 72-65, on Saturday in the MCCAC Semifinals held at Springfield Tech.
Handy scored 18 of his points in the first half, as the Warriors (18-6) led 33-31 at intermission.
In the second half, Massasoit led 38-33, before the Bulldogs (19-10) went on an 18-2 run to take a commanding 51-40 lead in the early goings of the second stanza.
Trailing by double digits for most of the second half, a late spurt, featuring back-to-back buckets by Bobby Belezos (Holbrook) pulled the Warriors within five points, 63-58, with just under two minutes to go.
However, the Bulldogs made their free throws down the stretch and held off the Warriors, advancing to the MCCAC Finals to face Bristol on Sunday at 2 PM.
The loss snapped a nine-game win streak for the Warriors, as Massasoit finished with 26 turnovers for the game.
Munroe totaled 13 points along with 11 rebounds, followed by Belezos with 13 points and Mark Georges with 11.
Massasoit is off until next Saturday, when the Warriors will face either Bunker Hill or Springfield Tech in the Region 21 Semifinals, held at Bunker Hill.
