TURNERS FALLS — A potential first victory of the season slipped away for the Turners Falls girls basketball team at home on Thursday. The Thunder took a lead into the fourth quarter but lost, 32-23, to Duggan Academy in a Tri-County North contest.
Turners Falls (0-9, 0-4 Tri-County North) held a four point lead over the Jayhawks to begin the final frame. Duggan Academy outscored the Thunder 18-5 in the fourth to pull away. Turners Falls held several leads throughout the game for the first time all year. The 18-14 third quarter lead was the biggest lead of the season.
“I think seeing them a second time,” Turners Falls coach Jason Salls said, “we thought we had a chance to play pretty well and possibly have a chance to get a victory. I think that’s what it was. But we just turned the ball over too much.”
Ivy Lopez of Turners Falls makes a move at the rim against Duggan Academy, Thursday in Montague. Credit: ADAM HARGRAVES / Staff Photo 
Ivy Lopez of Turners Falls surveys the court against Duggan Academy, Thursday in Montague. Credit: ADAM HARGRAVES / Staff Photo 
Jojo Hayman of the Turners Falls girls basketball team makes a move toward the hoop against Duggan Academy, Thursday in Montague. Credit: ADAM HARGRAVES / Staff Photo 
Autumn Thornton of Turners Falls scores on a runner against Duggan Academy, Thursday in Montague.
The program returned to varsity competition this season after a two year hiatus. The Thunder are not that far removed from success, having won a league championship during the 2021-2022 season. The current roster does not have a senior.
Jojo Hayman is a clear and present threat in the paint for the Thunder. She finished with 11 points and 15 rebounds. It’s her second straight double-double. The main problem with Turners Falls is turnovers. It’s very clear what needs to improve for the team.
“Our passing,” Hayman said. “Knowing where everyone is going. A lot of our plays are kind of all over the place. Just knowing how to make good passes and moving to the right spot at the right time.”
Hayman would like to expand her range beyond the paint but isn’t finding much success. Hayman is on the floor for the Thunder nearly 100 percent of the time.
“I’ve been working up my confidence to shoot in games,” Hayman said.
Ivy Lopez is the only junior. Lopez played a junior varsity schedule the last two seasons. Lopez is consistently in double-figures this season for the Thunder.
“I am very happy we finally have a varsity program,” Lopez said. “I know it’s growing me stronger as a player and the team stronger. Rather than facing these easy teams, so when we face these hard teams with more experience playing with each other longer, it gives us more confidence and boost. It is kind of sucky that we are losing but we are a young team. It’s fun and stressful at the same time. “
Lopez connected on a 3-pointer with two minutes, 25 seconds left to make it a one possession game against the Jayhawks. Duggan Academy responded with a 4-0 run to take command. Autumn Thornton, a ninth grader, scored four points. It’s Thornton’s first taste of varsity hoops this season.
“It’s different,” Thornton said. “J.V. players are not like varsity. Varsity is more aggressive. More active. It’s just different. I think if we work together we can win a couple games.”
A Hayman put back gave the Thunder a 16-14 lead with 1:19 left in the third quarter. Lopez followed with a floater in the paint to boost the lead to 18-14 going into the fourth. Autumn DiMare scored on a nice finish in the fourth quarter for Turners Falls.
The young team will take the experience and run with it next season.
“The experience is going to help them,” Salls said. “They will know what to expect going into next year. I would love to get them playing in the summer league over at the Tech school. Get some more experience. A lot of times our girls will just put the basketball away once the season is over with.”
Turners Falls travels to Pathfinder Tech for a Tri-County North match up on Tuesday.
Mohawk 32, Hopkins Academy 25 — The Warriors made it rain in a Franklin South win over the Golden Hawks in Buckland.
Mohawk (4-4, 2-3 Franklin South) connected on seven 3-pointers in the game. Zephyr Jetzon was the catalyst of the long range attack with four 3-pointers. She finished with 12 points. Natalie Lanoue scored six points on two 3-pointers.
Sadie Wilcox added nine points for Mohawk.
Frontier 57, Lenox 30 — The Redhawks kept rolling with a win over the Millionaires in the Berkshires. After the Suburban league win, Frontier (10-1, 7-0) has now won 10 straight.
Skyler Steele had 19 points and 10 rebounds for the Redhawks. Addie Harrington (17 points) and Harper Modestow (11 points) were also in double-figures. Harrington filled the stat sheet with eight rebounds, four steals and three blocks. Modestow held down the defense with five blocks. Whitney Campbell registered five assists.
Mahar 63, Smith Academy 38 — The Senators trounced the Falcons in Orange in a Franklin South match up. Hayden Comeau dropped 18 points for Mahar (7-2, 5-1 Franklin South).
Nastasia Sanders added 10 points for the Senators.
Pioneer 47, Greenfield 40 — Maggie Tsipenyuk and Kyler McClelland both scored 15 points for the Panthers in a home win over Greenfield at Messer Gymnasium in Franklin South play.
Jaelyn Boliski added eight points for Pioneer (6-3, 4-2 Franklin South). Working the glass was Cobi Tyminiski, who corralled 18 rebounds to go with six points.
Tayler Bergeron scored 15 points with three 3-pointers for Greenfield (4-7, 3-3 Franklin South). Gloria McDonald and Natalia Cody each added eight points for the Green Wave.
Boys basketball
Eagle Hill School 36, Four Rivers 30 — Henry Schwerin scored 12 points with five steals, but the Otters lost at Stoneleigh-Burnham.
Kolin Broderick had nine points, nine steals and three assists for Four Rivers.
Alpine skiing
Addie Loomis won the giant slalom at PVIAC race No. 3 at Berkshire East Ski Resort in Charlemont. Loomis clocked in at 32.82. The second place finisher, Izzy Usher of Minnechaug finished with a time of 34.89. Brooke Koshinsky placed seventh overall for the Warriors (36.72). Grace Sisum was 11th for Mohawk (37.50)
The Warriors took home the team North League victory with 147.23 points. Longmeadow was second (157.36).
Traversing the slalom, Liam Zarotny placed fourth overall (48.27) for the Mohawk boys team. Brother Ben Zarotny was right behind him in fifth (49.01) overall. Gunner Triggs was the next Mohawk finisher in eighth place (50.80).
Mohawk took second in the North League team results. The Warriors (205.35) were just behind first place Longmeadow (197.10).
Late Wednesday results
Wrestling
Mahar 45, Franklin Tech 34 — The Senators got the better of the Eagles in an independent tri-match with Pathfinder in Orange. Johnathan McIntyre of Franklin Tech pinned Brycyn Lenz at 120 pounds.
Orion Whitehouse of Mahar outlasted Max Brunette by a 10-7 decision at 132 pounds. Landon Purington (fall, :57) and Carsten Couture (14-4, MD) won for Franklin Tech at 138 and 144 pounds respectively.
Mahar’s Maximus Parsons (fall, :47) took down Owen LeBlanc at 150 pounds. Joshua Mazza also won by fall (1:45) at 157 pounds for the Senators. Eujeyn Smith got a win by fall at 165 pounds for Mahar. Jackson Morey of Franklin Tech pinned Anthony Marigliano at 43 seconds at 215 pounds.
Mahar 57, Pathfinder 15 — The Senators handled the Pioneers in Orange. Lenz (120), Robert Whitehouse (126), Orion Whitehouse (132) all won for the Senators. Lucas Briand won an 8-5 decision at 175 pounds for Mahar.
Franklin Tech 66, Pathfinder Tech 6 — The Eagles almost pitched a shutout in the win over the Pioneers in Orange. Brunette (132), Purington (138), Coleton Sabolevski (175) and Dillon Laffond (285) all won for Franklin Tech.