A last second opportunity failed for the Pioneer Valley Regional girls basketball team in a 42-41 loss to Smith Academy on Tuesday night.
Facing a one-point deficit, the Panthers had to go the length of the court in 6.1 seconds for a chance at a game-winner. Pioneer was unable to get a shot off at Messer Gymnasium, leading to the defeat in Franklin South play.
Maggie Tsipenyuk led the Panthers (1-3, 0-2 Franklin South) with 18 points. Tsipenyuk’s post game helped Pioneer build an 11 point lead in the third quarter. Tsipenyuk went 9-for-10 from the line in the game.
“I make good moves to the hoop and try to put it up,” Tsipenyuk said. “If they happen to foul, they happen to foul.”
Smith Academy (1-3, 1-2 Franklin South) slowly chipped away at the deficit before retaking the lead with a 6-0 run to begin the fourth quarter. Kyler McClelland had 12 points for the Panthers on four 3-pointers.
Between McClelland’s shooting and Tsipenyuk’s play in the paint, the Panthers had one of their better offensive performances of the season.
“We are working on our offense,” Pioneer coach Theresa Tsipenyuk said. “That’s been our weakness so far this season. Our defense has been strong but tonight it wasn’t the best. But our defense is what has carried us to this point. Tonight we finally started to see the offensive sets take shape.”
On the final play, McClelland took the inbounds pass and started to streak up the right side of the court. McClelland then surveyed the floor for Tsipenyuk but felt she was running out of time. McClelland tried to dribble through a trap and went to the hardwood.
“We had to get it up the floor quickly because it was on the other end,” McClelland said. ” I saw her (Tsipenyuk) and didn’t think I could make the pass.”
Kiara Gruszkowski made a baseline jumper with 7.6 seconds left to cut the Smith Academy lead to 42-41. Smith Academy missed two free throws leading to the opportunity for the Panthers.
Frontier 57, Palmer 18 — Addie Harrington scored 22 points for the Redhawks in the road win over the Panthers in an independent match up. After a loss to Northampton in their season opener, the Redhawks have now won four straight games.
Whitney Campbell added 16 points for Frontier (4-1). Harper Modestow scored seven points.
Pathfinder Tech 39, Athol 18 — Offense was hard to come by for the Bears in a road loss to the Pioneers in a Tri-County North contest.
Serena Nkengafe scored five points, with Abigayle Spooner hading four points for Athol (1-5, 1-2 Tri-County North).
Boys basketball
Hoosac Valley 90, Greenfield 76 — The Green Wave couldn’t stay with the Hurricanes in the home loss in independent play. The visitors from the Berkshires put together a 38-point third quarter to pull away from Greenfield.
Greenfield (3-2) got 37 points from Grayson Thomas and 25 points from Connor Bergeron. Gavin Arsenault chipped in with nine points.
Frontier 87, Commerce 70 — The Redhawks won their fourth straight game after the win over the Raiders at Goodnow Gymnasium in an independent match up.
Frontier (5-1) had five players reach double-figures. Max Millette led the way with 22 points. Rowan Modestow added 18 points. Alex Ellis scored 12 points, with Garrett Dredge chipping in with 10 points.
Turners Falls 61, Pioneer 45 — Kainen Stevens and Jackson Cogswell both dropped 18 points for the Thunder in a home win over the Panthers in an independent contest.
The Thunder (2-1) held a 31-20 halftime lead. Cam Johnson also connected for double-figures with 13 points. Johnson had three 3-pointers for Turners Falls.
Matt Richotte scored 18 points for Pioneer (0-5).
Westfield Tech 74, Mohawk 24 — Brayden Marcoux scored nine points, but the Warriors fell to the visiting Tigers in a Tri-County North match up in Buckland.
Marcoux connected on three 3-pointers for Mohawk (0-4, 0-2 Tri-County North). Thompson Bruin added seven points for the Warriors.
McCann Tech 41, Franklin Tech 29 — The Eagles lost to the Hornets in the Berkshires in a Tri-County North contest.
Mason Bassett led Franklin Tech (2-3, 1-1 Tri-County North) with eight points. Brody Hicks, Hunter Donahue and Cole Bassett each added five points for the Eagles.