ORANGE — Defense reigned supreme for the Mahar Regional School girls basketball team in a 57-28 win over Athol on Monday at Grzesik-Bixby Gymnasium.
Using a zone, the Senators allowed just nine points in the first half on their way to the Franklin County League North win over the Red Raiders. The nightcap of the doubleheader finished off Mahar’s sweep of its rival.
Micalyn Mailloux scored 15 points to lead the Senators (6-4, 3-2), but scoring came from a lot of sources for Mahar, especially in the paint with Courtney Page (nine points) and Saylor Kegans (eight points).
“Everybody contributed today,” Mailloux said. “Our two-three (defense) took a big step. We just knew to stop their shots. They hit everything the last game.”
Kegans shot an efficient 3-for-6 from the floor.
MaryAnne Prescott added eight points with two 3-pointers. The scoring diversity helped secure the win, according to Mailloux.
“It played a big role in winning the game,” Mailloux said. “It was definitely good.”
The inside play for Mahar’s forwards has improved all year, according to coach Larry Fisher.
“As we have progressed, we have started to realize that we do have an inside game,” Fisher said. “It’s getting better every game. It’s just a really nice win. To hold them to nine points in the first half, that says a lot about the defense.”
Mahar goes back to work tonight, visiting Putnam in an independent game.
“We want to build on this,” Fisher said. “We have four tough road games in a row. We will see that we can do.”
Delaney Parker scored six points with five assists running the point for the Senators. Parker added three steals on defense.
Athol’s Haley Bigwood scored 12 points but was limited in minutes, especially in the first half dealing with some foul trouble.
Geca Baptista scored seven points, including a 3-pointer from near the scorer’s table that beat the first-quarter buzzer.
After the slow start, the Red Raiders picked up the offense in the second half.
“We were moving the ball,” Athol coach Kelly Kaczmarczyk said. “We were getting the shots, we just couldn’t finish in the first half.”
The Senators lost Page to a wrist injury, and she went to the hospital to be evaluated after the game.
“This was another good game for her,” Mailloux said of Page. “It stinks that she’s hurt right now.”
Page led Mahar in rebounding, pulling down nine boards.
The Senators jumped out to a 13-2 lead in the first quarter with Bigwood on the bench in foul trouble.
A 3-pointer from the corner by Mailloux and a nifty reverse lay up from Parker gave Mahar its biggest lead at 24-7 in the second quarter.
Mailloux buried another 3-pointer minutes later to up the lead to 27-7.
The Red Raiders scored two points in the second quarter and trailed Mahar, 31-9, at halftime.
Bigwood picked up her play in the third quarter but a 3-pointer by Prescott cooled down Athol heading into the final frame. Mahar led 44-20 after three quarters.
Bigwood scored 10 of her 12 points in the third quarter.
The Senators left some points at the free throw line, going 13-for-33 for the game.
Athol (5-7, 0-5) has an away game at Turners Falls on Wednesday.
