HS Roundup: Athol boys basketball defeats Hampshire, 65-43, in key Hampshire League North showdown (PHOTOS)

Hampshire’s Braylon Jarrett drives on Athol’s Ben Kearney in Athol on Tuesday evening.

Hampshire’s Braylon Jarrett drives on Athol’s Ben Kearney in Athol on Tuesday evening. STAFF PHOTO/PAUL FRANZ

Athol’s Ethan Bacigalupo is guarded by Hampshire’s Vynce Carr and Emmett Schatz in Athol on Tuesday evening.

Athol’s Ethan Bacigalupo is guarded by Hampshire’s Vynce Carr and Emmett Schatz in Athol on Tuesday evening. STAFF PHOTO/PAUL FRANZ

 Athol’s Ethan Goodwin splits two Hampshire defenders in Athol on Tuesday evening.

Athol’s Ethan Goodwin splits two Hampshire defenders in Athol on Tuesday evening. STAFF PHOTO/PAUL FRANZ

 Athol’s Karim Thimpson shoots past Hampshire’s Emmet Schatz in Athol on Tuesday evening.

Athol’s Karim Thimpson shoots past Hampshire’s Emmet Schatz in Athol on Tuesday evening. STAFF PHOTO/PAUL FRANZ

Hampshire’s Vynce Carr is guarded by Athol’s Ethan Bacigalupo, left, and Ben Kearney in Athol on Tuesday evening.

Hampshire’s Vynce Carr is guarded by Athol’s Ethan Bacigalupo, left, and Ben Kearney in Athol on Tuesday evening. STAFF PHOTO/PAUL FRANz

Athol’s Ben Kearney goes to the rim against Hampshire in Athol on Tuesday.

Athol’s Ben Kearney goes to the rim against Hampshire in Athol on Tuesday. STAFF PHOTO/PAUL FRANZ

Hampshire’s Jack Wresien drives on Athol’s Logan Cormier in Athol on Tuesday evening.

Hampshire’s Jack Wresien drives on Athol’s Logan Cormier in Athol on Tuesday evening. STAFF PHOTO/PAUL FRANZ

Hampshire’s Vynce Carr and Athol’s Ben Kearney compete for a loose ball in Athol on Tuesday evening.

Hampshire’s Vynce Carr and Athol’s Ben Kearney compete for a loose ball in Athol on Tuesday evening. STAFF PHOTO/PAUL FRANZ

 Athol’s Aaron Ouellet is guarded by Hampshire’s Vynce Carr in Athol on Tuesday evening.

Athol’s Aaron Ouellet is guarded by Hampshire’s Vynce Carr in Athol on Tuesday evening. STAFF PHOTO/PAUL FRANZ

By THOMAS JOHNSTON

Staff Writer

Published: 02-04-2025 9:12 PM

Modified: 02-04-2025 9:41 PM


With the race for the Hampshire League North title so tightly-contested, the Athol boys basketball team knew it would likely need to win its final three league games to have a shot at the crown. 

That three-game stretch got started on the right foot Tuesday. 

Hosting Hampshire Regional — which came in with the same 7-2 record in league play as Athol — the Bears roared out to a 30-21 halftime lead and kept their foot on the gas in the second half to run away with a 65-43 victory at Mallet Gymnasium. 

Athol (10-5) has now won seven of its last eight and six in a row in HL North action. 

“Our defense really stepped up,” Bears coach Brian Patria said. “We talked about playing aggressive man defense all four quarters. Guys from our really stepped up like Brandon Adams, Dominik St. Andre and Karim Thompson. 

Adams led the charge with 17 points, Ben Kearney and Ethan Goodwin each recorded 12 points, Ethan Bacigalupo tossed in eight points while Thompson and St. Andre each added six points in the winning effort. 

Pioneer 53, Drury 36 — Leading 21-17 at the half, the Panthers took control in the third quarter by outscoring the Blue Devils, 20-8. That allowed Pioneer to run away with a Hampshire League South triumph in North Adams on Tuesday. 

The victory moved the Panthers to 10-0 in the HL South, which clinched an outright league title for them as every other team in the league has three or more losses while Pioneer only has two league games remaining. 

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Brayden Thayer tossed in 19 points, Kurt Redeker scored 13 points, Alex McClelland tallied 12 points while Jackson Glazier (5) and Judah Glenn (4) rounded out the scoring for the unbeaten Panthers. 

Mahar 52, Lenox 23 — The Senator defense didn’t allow the Millionaires to hit 10 points in any of the four quarters, leading to a Hampshire League South victory in Orange Tuesday. 

Jayden Delgado scored nine points to go along with seven rebounds, Derek Collins scored 10 points, Malaki Grummell tallied nine points and six rebounds, Marshall Ames scored seven points while Hunter Brooks and Morgan Softic each added five points in the win. 

Frontier 65, Hopkins 45 — The Redhawks pulled ahead 28-16 at the half to defeat the Golden Hawks in a Hampshire League South contest in Hadley Tuesday. 

Max Millette tossed in 13 points, Alex Ellis scored 11 points, Rowan Modestow recorded 10 points and Garrett Dredge added nine points in the winning effort. 

Lee 66, Turners 42 — Leading 25-11 at the half, the Wildcats put 25 on the board in the third to earn a Hampshire League North victory over the visiting Thunder on Tuesday. 

Jackson Cogswell recorded 14 points, Caden Williams scored 11 points while Kessik Beck and Freilyn Abarua each added six points in the loss for Turners. 

Four Rivers 48, Eagle Hill 38 — Meir Dragon scored 17 points and pulled down six boards in the Otters’ win Tuesday. 

Cooper Whitney tallied 15 points while Russell Herbert added 10 points for Four Rivers. 

Girls basketball

Frontier 54, Palmer 22 — A 22-point performance from Addie Harrington helped power the Redhawks to a Franklin County League North triumph over the Panthers at Goodnow Gymnasium Tuesday. 

Frontier led 37-13 at the half. 

Olivia Machon scored seven points while Whitney Campbell, Skyler Steele and Jazzy Hayes each scored six points in the win. 

Lee 62, Pioneer 28 — The Wildcats pulled ahead 36-17 at the half to defeat the Panthers in Northfield on Tuesday. 

Kyler McClelland scored eight points, Kiara Gruszkowksi and Maggie Tsipenyuk both scored five points while Natalie Rios and Deveney Pillsbury each added four points in the loss. 

Southwick 60, Franklin Tech 20 — Lili Inman recorded six points while Laken Woodard added five points in the Eagles’ road loss to the Rams Tuesday. 

Tech trailed 34-9 at the half. Hannah Gilbert scored four points while Samantha Duncan hit a 3-pointer in the loss. 

 Monday results

Girls basketball

 Mohawk Trail 36, Ware 29 — The Warriors handed Ware its first Franklin County League South loss of the season, building a 19-11 lead at the half to earn the road victory on Monday. 

Bella Pettengill recorded 12 points, Zephyr Jetzon tallied six points while Natalie Lanoue and Valerie Bzomowski each added five points for Mohawk Trail. 

Easthampton 47, Greenfield 30 — Tayler Bergeron finished with 11 points while Anna Bucala added 10 points  in the Green Wave’s loss to the Eagles in Franklin County League North action Monday. 

Easthampton led 21-7 at the half.  Natalia Cody and Mackenzie Goncalves both tossed in four points for Greenfield. 

Mahar 42, Palmer 38 — Thea Whitmore scored a season-high 16 points to go along with 10 boards, leading the Sens past the Panthers in Palmer on Monday in a Franklin County League North contest. 

Mah  ar trailed 25-23 going into the fourth. 

Taylor Paluk recorded 11  points, Julia Hatch scored eight points while Hayden Comeau added five points in the win.