NORTHFIELD — After a slow start, the Pioneer boys basketball team found its rhythm against Libertas Academy on Monday in the quarterfinals of the Western Mass. Class D tournament. 

The top-seeded Panthers were tied with the eighth-seeded Lions at 12 after eight minutes and Libertas tied things at 19 with just over four minutes to go in the half. 

Pioneer took over from there, closing the half on a 13-2 run and it kept its foot on the accelerator in the second half to advance to the semifinals with a 70-49 victory at Messer Gymnasium. 

“You go into these games knowing there are teams that are better than their seeds,” Panthers coach Scott Thayer said. “Being an eight seed against a one seed, you have nothing to lose. You have to come to play no matter what. It doesn’t matter if you win by one or win by 20 in these tournaments. You just have to win and advance.” 

The unbeaten Panthers (19-0) will host fifth-seeded Smith Academy in the semifinals at 5 p.m. Wednesday in Northfield. The Falcons (12-7) defeated Monson, 53-50, on Monday in the quarters. 

Kurt Redeker and Brayden Thayer each scored 23 points on Monday, bringing Redeker 33 points shy of the 1,000 point mark. Jackson Glazier tallied 14 points, Alex McClelland scored 12 points while Judah Glenn tossed in five points in the victory. 

Class B quarterfinals

Taconic 69, Frontier 43 — The Redhawks showed up to Pittsfield with nothing to lose. 

The No. 8 seed in the Class B tournament, Frontier led the top-seeded Thunder 14-11 after eight minutes and trailed just 31-27 at intermission. Taconic outscored the Redhawks 22-5 in the third however, to advance to the semifinals with a victory on Monday. 

The Thunder will take on crosstown foe Pittsfield in the semifinals. 

Max Millette finished with 17 points, Alex Ellis scored 13 points, Ty Skroski tossed in five points while Garrett Dredge added four points for Frontier (11-8).

Non-playoff games

Turners 67, Hopkins 41 — The Thunder defense held the Golden Hawks off the scoreboard completely in the first quarter to take a 17-0 lead. Turners went on to lead 31-11 at the half before cruising to a victory in Hadley on Monday. 

The Thunder close their season with a 6-14 record. 

Kessik Beck scored 20 points, Caden Williams tallied nine points, Kainen Stevens scored eight points while Alex Quezada, Freilyn ABarua, Brody Girard and David Klempner each had seven points in the win. 

Franklin Tech 70, Baystate Academy 53 — The Eagles closed out their season on a high note, erupting for 40 points in the first half to earn a win in Springfield on Monday. 

Gabe Mota and Dylan Cullen both scored 21 points, Cole Bassett finished with nine points, Caleb Johnston scored seven points while Brody Hicks added six points in the win for Franklin Tech (5-15).