Orange’s Jill Valley was tabbed as the Presto Sports NEWBA Co-Player of the Week Monday after guiding the Westfield State University women’s basketball team to a Massachusetts State Collegiate Athletic Conference (MASCAC) Tournament title Saturday.
The senior guard was named MVP of the MASCAC Tournament after averaging 30 points, 6 rebounds, 5 steals, 2.5 assists and 2 blocked shots per game. Valley scored 39 points in the semifinals, a 97-95 double-overtime win over Bridgewater State last Thursday. She connected on 14 of a school-record 31 shots from the floor, and made five 3-pointers. In the title game, Valley scored a game-high 21 points and added 7 rebounds and 5 steals as the Owls defeated Framingham State, 83-74.
Valley also took home some hardware from the MASCAC, as she was named the conference player of the week.
Valley and the Owls will play on the road in the opening round of the NCAA Division III Tournament Friday against Montclair (N.J.) State University.
Bluefish edge Athol YMCA
A plethora of individual winners propelled the Montague Bluefish to a 273-239 victory over the Athol YMCA in Pioneer Valley Junior Swim League competition Saturday in Athol.
In the youngest category of the event, Montague’s Rosie Rodriguez captured a pair of victories in the Female 8-and-under Division on Saturday. Rodriguez took first overall in the 25-meter backstroke (25.94 seconds) and 50 freestyle (50.27), while teammate Josie Sabelawski won races in the 25 free (18.08) and 100 Individual Medley (1:49.34). Maddie Sabelawski placed third in the 25 breaststroke.
In the Male 8-and-under Division, Liam Bliss swam to a trio of second place finishes in the 25 free, 25 back and 50 free.
Ainslee Flynn won two events in Female 9- and 10-year-old action, topping the field in the 100 IM (1:28.26) and 50 fly (40.75), while Sadie Rowan swept three races with victories in the 50 free (35.83), 50 back (42.32) and 100 free (1:20.71). Fellow Bluefish Taryn McDonough was a winner in the 50 breast (49.63) in addition to a runner-up finish in the 100 IM and third place in the 50 free, while Grace Davenport aided the cause with a third-place showing in the 50 fly.
In Male 9-10 year old competition, Tristan Bliss won both the 50 back (46.52) and 100 free (1:25.53), while Patrick Voss was 2nd in both the 50 back and 100 IM.
Natalie Rowan had a monster day in the Female 11- and 12-year-old Division, as she won three events overall with victories in the 100 IM (1:10.85), 50 back (37.94) and 50 fly (35.44). Katie Deso took wins in the 50 free (33.41) and 50 breast (41.70), while Hazel Reeder was a winner in the 100 free (1:12.26) in addition to runner-up finishes in the 50 free and 50 breast. Ella Sabelawski was 2nd in the 50 back and 3rd in both the 50 breast and 50 free.
On the boys’ side, Dylan Bliss swam to three big victories on Saturday in 11- and 12-year-old action. Bliss won the 50 free (32.33), 50 back (40.12) and 100 free (1:20.32), while teammate Ben Tardif was a winner in the 100 IM (1:32.26) and 50 fly (46.59). Jake Mattson rounded out the age bracket with a runner-up showing in the 100 IM and 50 back in addition to a third-place finish in the 50 free.
Montague dominated action in the 13- and 14-year-old female division, with Catherine Bezio and Olivia Whittier both winning three individual events. Bezio was tops in the 200 IM (3:08.03), 100 back (1:24.78) and 100 fly (1:43.18), while Whitter won the 50 free (29.57), 100 breast (1:17.35) and 100 free (1:05.41). Jillian Scott added three second-place finishes in the 50 free, 100 breast and 100 free.
Ellis Tarry added three more wins for the Bluefish in the 13-14 year old division on the boys’ side, as he was first in the 50 free (34.51), 100 breast (1:28.28) and 100 free (1:17.13).
Registrations open for FC Five Wrestling Club
Franklin County Five Wrestling Club begins on March 14 and is open to anyone ages 5 to18. The registration fee is $50 for the whole session which includes a club T-shirt and sweatshirt. The season runs Tuesday and Thursday nights from 6 to 8 p.m. at Franklin County Technical School.
For more information and registration forms, please e-mail fco5wc@gmail.com or check out the organization’s Facebook page.
GHS seeks girls’ tennis coach
The Greenfield High School athletic department is seeking a varsity girls’ tennis coach for the upcoming spring 2017 season. Interested applicants should send cover letters as soon as possible to athletic director Mike Kuchieski at mickuc1@gpsk12.org
FCTS dodgeball tourney rescheduled
Due to unforseen circumstances, the Franklin County Technical School Dodgeball Tournament has been moved from Friday to May 12. Sign-ups will begin again in May.
Hockey
Deerfield Academy dropped a 3-1 decision to Westminster School in a boys’ prep hockey game over the weekend.
• On the girls’ side, Deerfield fell to Loomis Chaffee School, 6-1.
Basketball
The Deerfield girls’ basketball team upended Choate Rosemary Hall, 53-45.
• In boys’ action, Deerfield fell to Choate, 56-38.