Frontier Regional School rode a strong defensive performance to take a big step toward qualifying for the postseason as the Red Hawks knocked off Mohawk Trail Regional High School, 43-25, in an independent girls basketball game Wednesday night in Buckland.
The Red Hawks held the host Warriors to 10 points in the first half, but Mohawk also played well defensively, and Frontier only held a 19-10 lead at the break. The Red Hawks broke out in the third quarter, nearly doubling their first-half output as they outscored the Warriors, 15-9, and began pulling away.
Frontier improved to 8-6 on the season and needs two wins in its final six games to qualify for the postseason. Mohawk, meanwhile, fell to 4-11, but can still qualify for the tournament by finishing second in the Franklin County League West Division, where it sits one game back of McCann Tech and Pope Francis, who are tied atop the standings.
Amelia Sobieski had a big night for Frontier with 16 points, including eight in the first half. Charlotte Doulette had six points in the first half and finished with 10 points, while Olivia Deane finished with 9 points. Marie Diemand hit a pair of 3-pointers in the third quarter for the Red Hawks and finished with 6 points.
Grace Poplawski led Mohawk with 14 points, including 10 from the free throw line as she went to the line 16 times on the night. Grace Ward had a nice all-around game for Mohawk with 5 points, 15 rebounds and five blocked shots.
Pioneer 46, Greenfield 41 — Garrett Cote is a difference-maker.
The Pioneer senior guard proved to be every bit of that as his Panthers needed every one of his 24 points to get past Greenfield Wednesday night during a 46-41 victory at Nichols Gymnasium in Greenfield.
Pioneer (12-2) had not failed to break the 50-point mark all season but struggled on offense against the Green Wave until the fourth quarter, when the Panthers scored 18 points to pull away. The teams went into halftime tied at 19-19, and Pioneer held a 28-27 lead after three.
“ Defensively, we executed the way we wanted, we just gave up too many offensive rebounds, and that’s what won them the game,” Greenfield coach Angelo Thomas said. “They probably had 10 points off offensive rebounds, just their will to get the ball, that was the difference.”
Another difference-maker was Cote, who hit five 3-pointers en route to his game-high 24 points. Thomas said that of the five 3s by Cote, three were from 30 feet.
“Garrett, I’ve seen it a lot, he’s a difference maker,” he explained. “He gets shots that not many other people hit.”
Jared Hubbard add 10 points for Pioneer, including a big 3-pointer late in the game to help seal the victory, and Troy Emond netted 6 points.
Mason Meadows had a double-double for the Green Wave with 15 points and 18 rebounds. Owen Phelps netted 8 points, and Nate Haselton added 6.
Greenfield (7-7) and Pioneer meet again in six days in Northfield.
“Good teams and good players have short memories. We’ve got a chance against them next week,” Thomas said.
While Pioneer is already in the tournament, Greenfield needs three wins in its final six games to qualify. It can take a huge step Friday night in Orange when it faces Mahar and Thomas said his team needs to shrug off the tough loss to the Panthers and be ready for the Senators.
“I’ve been a part of emotional let downs after a game like this, and we need to come out Friday against Mahar and play our butts off,” he concluded. “Effort-wise, if 10 is the best, we were probably a 9½, tonight. I have no issues with how hard they played. You give up 46 points and most night you can win. We just need to make some plays down the stretch and get some defensive rebounds.”
Hampshire 57, Mohawk 12 — Jaden Moore and Eathon Brower each won for Mohawk on Wednesday but the Warriors fell to Hampshire, 57-12, in an independent wrestling match in Buckland.
Moore scored a second-period pin over Max Abel at 145 pounds, while Bower pinned Jake Constantine in 55 seconds at 220 pounds.
Frontier 43, Mohawk 25
Frontier (43)
Sobieski 6-4—16, Doulette 4-2—10, Deane 3-2—9, Diemand 2-0—6, Sackray 1-0—2, Warren, Maes-Polan, Roberts, Mackin, Bardwell. Totals 26-18—43.
Mohawk (25)
Poplawski 2-10—14, Ward 2-1—5, Lesieur 1-0—2, Clark 1-0—2, Reynolds 1-0—2, Dupree, Rancourt. Totals: 7-11—25.
3-Point Goals: (F) Diemand 2, Deane.
Score by quarters:
|
Frontier |
9 |
10 |
15 |
9 |
— |
43 |
|
Mohawk |
6 |
4 |
9 |
6 |
— |
25 |
Boys Game
Pioneer 46, Greenfield 41
PIoneer (46)
Emond 1-3—6, Hubbard 4-0—10, Potter 0-1—1, Fuller 1-1—3, Cote 6-7—24, Fox 1-0—2, Emberley, Curtis. Totals 13-12—46.
Greenfield (41)
Haselton 2-1—6, Phelps 4-0—8, Sak 2-0—4, Meadows 6-3—15, Campbell 1-2—4, Cote 1-0—2, Brewington 1-0—2, Vega, Hart. Totals: 17-6—41.
3-Point Goals: (P) Cote 5, Emond, Hubbard 2. (G) Haselton.
Score by quarters:
|
Pioneer |
7 |
12 |
9 |
18 |
— |
46 |
|
Greenfield |
8 |
11 |
8 |
14 |
— |
41 |