The Pioneer Valley Interscholastic Athletic Conference Western Massachusetts basketball tournament brackets were released and four Berkshire County teams earned top seeds. That includes the Drury boys and girls each earning the top spot in their respective Class C brackets.
Wahconah's Jack DuCharme gets off a turnaround jumper.
JESSE KOLODKIN — THE BERKSHIRE EAGLEBoys
For once, Class B is no longer the under the thumb of Berkshire County teams. In the first four years of the new Western Mass. Tournament, a Berkshire County team was the top seed in Class B and outside of 2023 when Springfield ICS beat Taconic in the final, a Berkshire County team has won it every year. Taconic in 2022, Pittsfield in 2024 and Monument in 2025. The last two years have been all-Berkshire finales with PHS and Monument.
This year could be different, as Sci-Tech is the top seed in Class B by a wide margin. Sci-Tech did host Taconic last Monday and won 68-54, although the game was close heading into the fourth quarter. The Cybercats from Springfield are still a relative unknown, but the No. 2 seed is Wahconah and the Warriors will get a very familiar foe in No. 7 Taconic in the quarterfinals. Wahconah won the first game 79-47, but had to survive a dogfight in the second game, 69-67. The Thunder are also coming off a huge win over Pittsfield in War on the Floor this past Friday.
Adan Wicks elevates for a layup in transition.
JESSE KOLODKIN — THE BERKSHIRE EAGLEPittsfield is the three seed and will host No. 6 Frontier while Monument is fourth and hosts fifth-seeded South Hadley. The two played earlier in the season, with Monument eking out a 66-63 win, at South Hadley. This game will be in Great Barrington, however.
Drury lost in the Class C title game last year and in its quest to win a Western Mass. title, its first since 2023, the Blue Devils are the top seed. Their power rating of 3.18 is almost five points higher than No. 2 Greenfield. Drury will host No. 8 Renaissance in the quarterfinals. Lee is the fifth seed and will be at No. 4 Palmer. If Lee pulls off the upset, it could be at Drury in the semifinals. Lenox is the seventh seed and will be at Greenfield.
In Class D, Hoosac Valley is the top seed and Mount Everett is No. 2. Those two played a close game towards the end of the regular season, with Hoosac winning narrowly, 51-44 in Cheshire. If they want to meet again, it would be in the Class D championship. Hoosac has to contend with No. 8 Baystate Academy in the quarterfinals while Everett will host No. 7 Monson.
Drury's Ashlyn Hayden goes up for 2.
MARC J. WRZESINSKI - EAGLE CORRESPONDENTGirls
Pittsfield is looking to make it four straight trips to the Class B title game and the Generals are eager to defender their status as reigning Class B champs. The top seed in Class B once again, Pittsfield will host No. 8 SICS in the quarterfinals. Wahconah is the sixth seed and will be at No. 3 South Hadley in the quarters. Wahconah is coming off a 62-50 loss to South Hadley on Monday, but it was a one possession game deep into the fourth quarter.
Pittsfield's Kyana Summers goes for a steal against Taconic's Jalana Smith.
MIKE WALSH — THE BERKSHIRE EAGLEIn Class C, the Drury girls are the top seed and will be looking for their first Western Mass. title in the new format. The Blue Devils made it to the Class C championship in 2023, but lost to SICS. They'll begin their journey by hosting No. 8 Palmer in the quarterfinals. Lee is the second seed and will host No. 7 Greenfield while Lenox is fifth and will be at No. 4 Mahar.
There should be plenty of intrigue with Class C. If Lenox pulls off the 5/4 upset, and Drury wins, it would be Lenox vs Drury for the third time this season. Drury won the first game 70-25, but had to grind out the second one, 51-43. The game would be in North Adams. Also on the potential docket, two-time defending Class C champion Renaissance is the third seed. If both Renaissance and Lee win in the quarterfinals, the Phoenix would be at Lee in the second round.
Lee's Giana Carlino had 16 points in Wednesday's home win over Hoosac Valley.
MIKE WALSH — THE BERKSHIRE EAGLEThe two used to be in the same league and Renaissance swept Lee the last two years, not to mention beat the Wildcats in last year's MIAA Division V State Semifinal.
In Class D, Hoosac might be the four-time defending champ, but the Hurricanes will embark on the journey to five without the benefit of the top seed. Granby is No. 1 in Class D while Hoosac is No. 2. Hoosac will host Mohawk Trail in the quarterfinals and most likely Pioneer Valley Christian if it wins and makes it to the semifinals.
