AMHERST — The same problems persisted for the Mahar Regional School girls basketball team in its second game of the season.
The Senators could not battle through turnovers in a loss 67-36 loss to Hampshire Regional at the Pioneer Valley Tip-Off Classic at UMass’ Curry Hicks Cage on Friday night.
Mahar (0-2) struggled to take care of the ball from the opening tip in the independent contest.
“Right now our guard play is absolutely horrible,” Mahar coach Larry Fisher said. “For some reason we just got outhustled tonight. They are bigger than us and a little quicker but they aren’t 30 points better than us.”
Micalyn Mailloux scored 15 points with a pair of 3-pointers for the Senators. But turnovers prevented the team from getting into half court sets easily against the Red Raiders (1-0).
“It’s only the second game,” Fisher said. “We have to get everyone going. We are working on that. We have offense, we are just reluctant to get into it.”
Mailloux added four rebounds and two steals.
The guard play must improve going forward, according to Fisher.
“I thought that was one of our strengths,” Parker said. “I think eventually it will be one of our strengths. We were lackadaisical going into screens. Not making screens. I just don’t have a lot good to say right now.”
Saylor Kegans had a productive night from the center position, coming off the bench and contributing eight rebounds and seven blocks.
The Raiders opened the game on a 8-0 run using a press that gave the Senators a lot of problems getting into their offense.
Mahar got back into the game with a couple baskets by Mailloux and free throws from Parker to make it 8-6.
Parker did well getting to the line in the first half, going 5-for-9 to help boost the offense. She finished in double-figures with 12 points.
The Mahar defense gave up some points at the 3-point line in the second quarter and the deficit ballooned to 24-12 with 4:08 remaining before halftime.
Mailloux picked up her third foul in the second quarter and had to sit for the remainder of the half. During that time, the Senators fell behind, 33-16, entering intermission.
Mahar went 8-for-21 as a team from the line in the first half.
A 3-pointer by Maddie Pond gave the Raiders their biggest lead at 36-16 in the third quarter. Hampshire continued pouring it on in the third quarter, going on a 10-0 run to start the third frame.
Back-to-back 3-pointers by Mailloux and MaryAnne Prescott stopped that run. Parker closed the third quarter with a buzzer-beating runner to make it 45-26 going into the fourth.
Mahar was productive getting to the free throw line against Hampshire’s aggressive defense but wound up 15-for-34 for the game.
Siobhan Davis chipped in with five rebounds and two steals for the Senators.
Mahar is back in action on Dec. 20 in its home opener against Hopkins Academy.
For Hampshire, Maggie Rubeck and Pond both scored 20 points with Delaney Marek adding another 10. Rubeck scored 11 points in the fourth quarter alone when Hampshire pulled away.
Pond nailed three 3-pointers for the Raiders.
