Trailing deep into the third quarter on the road in a raucous Goodnow Gymnasium, the Pioneer boys basketball team finally found its footing on Friday night.

Frontier held a 23-22 lead at the half on its Senior Night and still held onto a 32-30 lead late in the third after Max Millette drained a 3. 

It was all Panthers to close out the quarter, as they went on a 10-2 run to hold a 40-34 lead after three quarters. 

Alex McClelland converted an and-one to extend the Pioneer lead to 43-34 to open the fourth but the Redhawks stuck in it, as Millette had an and-one of his own with 3:03 to play that brought Frontier within four, 47-43. 

Millette later knocked down a 3 that cut the Pioneer lead to 49-46 with with 31 ticks left, but Kurt Redeker hit a runner in the lane for the Panthers. Josh Wood made a free throw late that helped Pioneer edge out a 52-48 Hampshire League South triumph. 

Redeker finished with 20 points, Josh Wood scored 18 points while Brayden Thayer tallied 12 points in the win. 

Fasulo led Frontier with 18 points, Millette tossed in 15 points while Owen Babb recorded 11 points in the loss. 

Athol 36, Smith Academy 30 (OT) — Senior Colby Goodwin scored all four of his points in overtime as the Bears outscored the Falcons 6-0 in the extra frame to pull off a Hampshire League North victory at Mallet Gymnasium. 

Athol (15-2) closes out HL North play with an unblemished 12-0 record. 

Angel Castillo, who’s shot at the buzzer sent the game to overtime, led the way with 18 points. Ray Castine added eights for the Bears.

Chicopee 45, Mahar 40 — Marshall Ames finished with 12 points for the Senators, who were unable to pull out an independent win against the Pacers in Chicopee on Friday. 

Will Barnes tallied 10 points, Jayden Delgado scored six points and Morgan Softic added five points for Mahar. 

Girls basketball

Mahar 46, Hopkins 23 — A balanced scoring effort that saw every Mahar player factor into the scoring was more than enough to send the Senators to a second win in as many nights over the Golden Hawks.

Mahar honored seniors Alivia Patch (five points) and Dakota Cleveland (four) prior to the game. Nevaeh Scribner’s 14 points paced the Sens, while Irati Martinez followed with nine. Shea Woods drilled a 3-pointer to aid the Mahar effort.

Late Thursday results

Girls basketball

Pioneer 66, Athol 23 — Kyler McClelland drained seven 3’s to finish with 23 points, helping the Panthers pick up a Franklin County League South win over the Bears in Athol on Thursday. 

Addie Harrington scored 14 points, Leah Potter tallied eight points, Natalie Rios finished with seven points while Hailey Ring totaled six points for Pioneer. 

Jenna Bonenfant scored 11 points,  Anna Duquette finished with five  points while Emily King recorded three points for Athol. 

Mahar 40, Hopkins 21 — Nevaeh Scribner went for a game-high 14 points in the Senators' dominant Franklin County League North win on Thursday night at Reed Gymnasium in Hadley.

Irati Martinez aided the effort with 11 points for Mahar.