ATHOL — In a hotly contested game that featured technicals, ejections and a bloody nose, the Athol High School boys basketball team defeated Greenfield High School, 84-71 at Mallet Gymnasium on Thursday night.
The Hampshire League North victory kept the Red Raiders (7-10, 3-2 HLN) in playoff contention. Athol needs to win the rest of its schedule to make the playoffs.
“It had a tournament feel to it,” Athol Dan Bevis said of the game. “We are in tournament mode right now. The guys are working hard. We have to keep getting better.”
Both fan sections went back and forth throughout the game.
“The atmosphere was pretty good,” Bevis said. “Our student body showed up tonight. They brought a good fan section. It was good both ways.”
Greenfield led for almost the entire game but the Red Raiders went on a 18-2 run to close out the game.
“They played better than we did,” Greenfield coach Angelo Thomas said. “They played hungry. We didn’t play hungry. That’s all I am going to say.”
Vincent Gordon’s 3-pointer gave the Red Raiders a 78-69 lead with 3 minutes, 3 seconds left in the game. Greenfield blew out Athol earlier in the season.
“We got to win out,” Gordon said. “We had a chip on our shoulder from last time.”
Gordon finished with 13 points on three 3-pointers.
“All week at practice we have executed what coach has been telling us,” Gordon said. “We put it together. A lot of emotions.”
Mark Ferrari scored 11 of his 21 points in the third quarter when Athol mounted its comeback.
“We just needed this game,” Ferrari said. “It’s as simple as that. It was insane. Best atmosphere I have been in. Our fans were cheering. It was amazing.”
The game had a total of 43 fouls, four technicals and two ejections.
“It was a chippy game for sure,” Ferrari said. “It’s always going to be between us and them.”
Ferrari’s put back bucket gave Athol its first lead of the game at 71-69 in the fourth quarter.
Athol received balance scoring with Bryce King (16 points), Nathan Heath (10 points), Riley Paine (13 points) and Noah Pottinger (11 points) all in double figures.
The Red Raiders gave up only seven points in the fourth quarter.
“Defensively, we were able to get some stops,” Bevis said. “Makes some plays on offense. All the guys made plays. This is a good win for them. They went out and executed.”
David Carey had 18 points on five 3-pointers for the Wave. Mason Meadows (14 points), Henry Zwart (15 points) Maverick Ward (11 points) and Julius Brewington all hit double-figures for the Wave.
The Green Wave started quickly taking an early lead on the Red Raiders.
Brewington had a nice first quarter, scoring six points in the paint. A 3-pointer by Zwart opened up the Green Wave’s biggest lead at 25-10.
The Red Raiders started a press in the second quarter. A Green Wave turnover and an uncontested basket by King led to a quick timeout by Greenfield in the second quarter.
Athol got another steal after the timeout when Paine intercepted a pass at mid-court and scored. The score cut the lead to 25-18.
The Athol press continued to give the Green Wave problems in the second quarter. Another steal and score from King cut the lead to 27-24.
Meadows and Carey hit consecutive 3-pointers to temporarily quiet the home crowd and bring the lead back to 35-24 with 3:17 left in the second quarter.
Carey and Paine traded 3-pointers, and some trash-talking, to end the first half.
Greenfield (10-5, 4-2 HLN) led 42-36 at halftime.
Athol came back after the intermission and after a late 3-pointer by Maysin Tarbell trailed 62-60 with 53 seconds left in the third quarter.
Double technicals were called with 35 seconds left on Paine and Meadows after a foul call on the Red Raiders. Both players were clapping at each other, drawing the technicals.
The call sent both teams to their respective benches while Meadows shot the free throws.
Greenfield led 64-60 going into the fourth.
Jake Sak left the game in the fourth quarter after bloodying his nose fighting for a loose ball. The play was called a jump ball.
Sak did not return, applying ice for the rest of the game behind the scorer’s table.
Meadows and Ferrari were both thrown out with 1:43 left in the game for talking back-and-forth after a foul call.
Athol heads to South Deerfield on Monday to play Frontier in a must-win game. Greenfield is back in action at Monson on Saturday at 2:30.
