HS Roundup: Big first half propels Drury boys basketball past Mahar, 57-49 (PHOTOS)
Published: 01-28-2025 9:48 PM |
ORANGE — A valiant second half effort from the Mahar boys basketball team fell short against Drury on Tuesday.
The Blue Devils had the hot hand early to take a 20-11 lead after eight minutes before extending the lead to 36-17 at the half.
The Senators didn’t go down easy. Mahar outscored Drury 17-6 in the third to cut the deficit to 42-34 going into the fourth but a pair of triples from Blue Devil Jorge Bond to open the fourth helped Drury take control and the Blue Devils made their free throws late to hang on for a 57-49 Hampshire League South victory.
“It’s inexcusable for us to come out and play a half of basketball in front of a jam packed crowd lifeless with five seniors on the floor,” Mahar coach Chad Softic said. “I’m embarrassed and I hope my guys are too. You play a good team like that and play with zero intensity, heart or toughness. We got what we deserved.”
It was Bond who gave the Senator defense fits throughout, as the sophomore tallied four 3’s to finish with a game-high 31 points.
Mahar got going late in the third, using its defense to force turnovers. A pair of baskets from Jayden Delgado, a Morgan Softic 3 and a layup and a pair of free throws from Marshall Ames helped the Sens close the quarter on an 11-2 run to cut it to 43-34 going into the fourth.
Lian Lopez-Baez scored back-to-back baskets that cut the Drury lead to 50-40 with 2:48 to play and with 26 seconds left, Derek Collins hit a 3-pointer that cut it to 56-40 but the Blue Devils were able to run out the clock to walk away with a victory.
“Of course we show some fight in the second half,” Chad Softic said. “That’s fine. Playing winning basketball takes 32 minutes and we certainly didn’t do that tonight.”
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Delgado finished with 13 points, Softic scored 11 points, Collins finished with 10 points, Ames scored eight points and Lopez-Baez added seven points in the loss.
Frontier 78, Greenfield 74 (OT) — Max Millette is one one heck of a heater.
The Redhawk junior scored 39 points on Monday against South Hadley and followed it up with a second straight 39 point performance on Tuesday, helping Frontier pull out an overtime victory over the Green Wave at Goodnow Gymnasium.
Greenfield led 50-39 going into the fourth before the Redhawks scored 30 in the fourth to tie it at 69 going into overtime.
Alex Ellis tossed in 18 points, Garrett Dredge scored eight points while Diego Frazier tallied six points in the winning effort. Jon Breor led Greenfield with 27 points, Grayson Thomas scored 22 points, Caleb Thomas recorded 12 points and Caleb Murray added six points in sthe loss.
Athol 68, Franklin Tech 43 — Ethan Bacigalupo finished with 17 points while Ben Kearney added 13 points, lifting the Bears to a Hampshire League North triumph over the Eagles at Mallet Gymnasium Tuesday.
Athol led 37-24 at the half.
Logan Cormier tossed in 12 points, Ethan Goodwin scored nine points and Eli Wein added five points in the victory for the Bears.
Nolyn Stafford did it all for Franklin Tech, finishing with 28 points. Cole Bassett tossed in six points while Hunter Donahue and Jamie Muniz each scored four points in the loss.
Turners 61, Mount Greylock 59 — Jackson Cogswell led the way with 18 points and Caden Williams recorded 14 points, as the Thunder held on to earn a Hampshire League North triumph in Turners on Tuesday.
Turners led 31-29 at the half before tying the Mounties 16-16 in the third and 14-14 in the fourth.
Brody Girard scored 12 points and Davian Bala added six points in the victory.
The fifth PVIAC alpine ski meet took place on Tuesday at Berkshire East.
Mohawk Trail’s Addie Loomis added another first place finish in the girls race, completing the giant slalom course in a time of 32.43 seconds.
Warriors Lydie Pinkham (second, 33.31), Sofiya Slocik Gritzner (ninth, 35.77) and Brooke Koshinsky (10th, 35.86) joined Loomis in the top 10 while Grace Sisum (11th, 35.87), Caroline Makosiej (21st, 39.38) and Jaylynn Peters (25th, 40.57) earned top 25 finishes for Mohawk Trail.
In the boys slalom race, Warrior Phineas Tuttman took fourth (47.26) while Grayson Bishop came in seventh (51.03). Ben Zarotny came in 11th (53.53), Liam Zarotny placed 12th (54.22) and Gunnar Triggs came in 16th (57.55) for Mohawk Trail.
Girls basketball
Franklin Tech 44, Athol 24 — Allison Robertson scored eight points, Abigayle Spooner recorded five points and eight rebounds while Ava Martin added seven points in the Bears’ loss in Turners Falls on Monday.
Boys swimming
Turners 47, Holyoke 47 — Liam Bliss took first in the 100 breast (1:10.82) in the Thunders’ tie with the Purple Knights in Turner s Monday.
William Tyler, Malcolm Tyler, Tyler Galenski and Bliss won the 400 free relay (4:13.25) for Turners.
Girls swimming
Holyoke 52, Turners 42 — Alice Fortin won the 50 free (28.38) and the 100 freee (1:06.60) in the Thunder’s loss to the Purple Knights in Turners Monday.
Lilian Walker-Hanning added a first place finish in the 100 breast (1:21.22) for Turners.