PERFECTION! No. 1 Pioneer cruises past Hopedale 49-28 to capture MIAA Division 5 state title
The Pioneer boys basketball team celebrates with the fan section after beating Hopedale 49-28 to win the MIAA Division 5 state championship Saturday at the Tsongas Center in Lowell. PHOTO BY DAN LITTLE
The Pioneer boys basketball team celebrates after beating Hopedale 49-28 to win the MIAA Division 5 state championship Saturday at the Tsongas Center in Lowell. PHOTO BY DAN LITTLE
Pioneer players celebrate with fans after their 49-28 win over Hopedale for the MIAA Div. 5 state championship Saturday at the Tsongas Center in Lowell. PHOTO BY DAN LITTLE
Pioneer players storm the court to celebrate after their 49-28 win over Hopedale for the MIAA Div. 5 state championship Saturday at the Tsongas Center in Lowell. PHOTO BY DAN LITTLE
The Pioneer sideline celebrates after their 49-28 win over Hopedale for the MIAA Div. 5 state championship Saturday at the Tsongas Center in Lowell. PHOTO BY DAN LITTLE
Pioneer’s Brayden Thayer celebrates after their 49-28 win over Hopedale for the MIAA Div. 5 state championship Saturday at the Tsongas Center in Lowell. PHOTO BY DAN LITTLE
Pioneer’s Brayden Thayer (10) puts up a shot over Hopedale defender Nate Rutkowski (23) in the first quarter of the MIAA Div. 5 state championship Saturday at the Tsongas Center in Lowell. PHOTO BY DAN LITTLE
Pioneer’s Kurt Redeker (3) drives to the hoop contested by Hopedale’s Nate Rutkowski (23) in the first quarter of the MIAA Div. 5 state championship Saturday at the Tsongas Center in Lowell. PHOTO BY DAN LITTLE
Pioneer’s Brayden Thayer (10) drives the ball past Hopedale defender Keigan Murphy (15) in the first quarter of the MIAA Div. 5 state championship Saturday at the Tsongas Center in Lowell. PHOTO BY DAN LITTLE
Pioneer’s Kurt Redeker (3), left, and Judah Glenn (13) fight for a rebound against Hopedale’s Danny Carroll (33) and JJ Douglas (10) in the second quarter of the MIAA Div. 5 state championship Saturday at the Tsongas Center in Lowell. PHOTO BY DAN LITTLE
Pioneer’s Kurt Redeker (3) puts up a shot over Hopedale’s Danny Carroll (33) in the second quarter of the MIAA Div. 5 state championship Saturday at the Tsongas Center in Lowell. PHOTO BY DAN LITTLE
Pioneer’s Brayden Thayer (10) reaches for a rebound against Hopedale defenders Keigan Murphy (15) and Brayden Lewis (32) in the second quarter of the MIAA Div. 5 state championship Saturday at the Tsongas Center in Lowell. PHOTO BY DAN LITTLE
Pioneer’s Brayden Thayer (10) takes a three-pointer against Hopedale in the second quarter of the MIAA Div. 5 state championship Saturday at the Tsongas Center in Lowell. PHOTO BY DAN LITTLE
Pioneer’s Jackson Glazier (4) drives the ball against Hopedale defender Brayden Lewis (32) in the second quarter of the MIAA Div. 5 state championship Saturday at the Tsongas Center in Lowell. PHOTO BY DAN LITTLE
Pioneer’s Alex McClelland (15) dribbles between Hopedale defenders Keigan Murphy (15) and JJ Douglas (10) in the second quarter of the MIAA Div. 5 state championship Saturday at the Tsongas Center in Lowell. PHOTO BY DAN LITTLE
Pioneer’s Kurt Redeker (3) drives to the hoop over Hopedale’s Nate Rutkowski (23) in the second quarter of the MIAA Div. 5 state championship Saturday at the Tsongas Center in Lowell. PHOTO BY DAN LITTLE
Pioneerâs Kurt Redeker (3) attempts a shot over Hopedaleâs Danny Carroll (33) in the second quarter of the MIAA Div. 5 state championship Saturday at the Tsongas Center in Lowell. PHOTO BY DAN LITTLE
Pioneer’s Kurt Redeker (3) goes in for a layup between Hopedale’s Robbie Manning (24) and Nate Rutkowski (23) in the second quarter of the MIAA Div. 5 state championship Saturday at the Tsongas Center in Lowell. PHOTO BY DAN LITTLE
Pioneer’s Will Glazier (25) takes a shot against Hopedale in the second quarter of the MIAA Div. 5 state championship Saturday at the Tsongas Center in Lowell. PHOTO BY DAN LITTLE
Pioneer’s Alex McClelland (15) puts up a shot over Hopedale’s Danny Carroll (33) in the second quarter of the MIAA Div. 5 state championship Saturday at the Tsongas Center in Lowell. PHOTO BY DAN LITTLE
Pioneer’s Alex McClelland (15) puts in a layup against Hopedale in the second quarter of the MIAA Div. 5 state championship Saturday at the Tsongas Center in Lowell. PHOTO BY DAN LITTLE
Pioneer’s Brayden Thayer (10) puts in a breakaway layup past Hopedale’s Brayden Lewis (32 in the third quarter of the MIAA Div. 5 state championship Saturday at the Tsongas Center in Lowell. PHOTO BY DAN LITTLE
Pioneer’s Alex McClelland (15) takes a shot defended by Hopedale’s Nate Rutkowski (23) in the second quarter of the MIAA Div. 5 state championship Saturday at the Tsongas Center in Lowell. PHOTO BY DAN LITTLE
Pioneer’s Brayden Thayer (10) puts in a layup against Hopedale in the second quarter of the MIAA Div. 5 state championship Saturday at the Tsongas Center in Lowell. PHOTO BY DAN LITTLE
Pioneer’s Kurt Redeker (3) gets fouled on a shot attempt by Hopedale’s Brayden Lewis (32 in the third quarter of the MIAA Div. 5 state championship Saturday at the Tsongas Center in Lowell. PHOTO BY DAN LITTLE
Pioneer’s Brayden Thayer (10) hits a three-pointer against Hopedale in the third quarter of the MIAA Div. 5 state championship Saturday at the Tsongas Center in Lowell. PHOTO BY DAN LITTLE
Pioneer’s Alex McClelland (15) puts in a layup against Hopedale in the fourth quarter of the MIAA Div. 5 state championship Saturday at the Tsongas Center in Lowell. PHOTO BY DAN LITTLE
Pioneer’s Jackson Glazier (4) takes a shot against Hopedale in the fourth quarter of the MIAA Div. 5 state championship Saturday at the Tsongas Center in Lowell. PHOTO BY DAN LITTLE
Pioneer head coach Scott Thayer calls out a play against Hopedale in the fourth quarter of the MIAA Div. 5 state championship Saturday at the Tsongas Center in Lowell. PHOTO BY DAN LITTLE
|
Published: 03-15-2025 2:54 PM
Modified: 03-15-2025 5:16 PM |
LOWELL — For the first time in 28 years, a boys basketball state championship trophy is heading back to Northfield.
After cruising past Prospect Hill Academy, Old Colony, Ware and Drury to reach the MIAA Division 5 state final, No. 1 Pioneer was expecting its toughest test of the season when it took on second-seeded Hopedale in the title game Saturday.
But just like they have all season, the Panthers defense made sure the game was never in doubt.
Trailing 11-10 at the end of the first quarter, Pioneer held the Blue Raiders to just two points in the second quarter to take a 25-13 lead at the half.
The Panthers knocked down four 3-pointers in the third quarter to go ahead 42-20 with eight minutes to go, and held on in the fourth to take home their first state championship since 1997 with a 49-28 victory at the Tsongas Center.
It’s the third state championship in program history for Pioneer (26-0).
“I’m at a loss for words,” Panthers senior Brayden Thayer said. “It’s just amazing. The way we did it beating every team pretty good and being able to do it with these guys, I couldn’t ask for anything more.”
The saying is defense wins championships, and Pioneer proved that to be true.
Article continues after...
Yesterday's Most Read Articles
Connecticut man closes on McGovern dealerships in Greenfield
PERFECTION! No. 1 Pioneer cruises past Hopedale 49-28 to capture MIAA Division 5 state title
Greenfield moves to third round of Strongest Town Contest
Greenfield Starbucks pours its first cup
Community support aids Pioneer boys basketball team in dominant state title win over Hopedale
Franklin County school districts say cuts to fresh food program ‘highly disheartening’
In their five state tournament games, the Panthers held four of their opponents to under 30 points. That included the state quarterfinal, semifinal and final, as opponents like Hopedale struggled to deal with the Pioneer length and tenacity on that end of the court.
In those five games, Pioneer allowed just 151 points total – good for an average of 30.2 points per game.
“That’s never a goal [holding a team under 30 points],” Panthers coach Scott Thayer said. “You never look at the scoreboard. Every possession it’s 0-0 and in the end we tally up the score. Kids dictate their level of energy and effort based on the scoreboard. Not these guys. When we’re up 25 [points], they’re still digging. That’s a key characteristic of this team.”
It was Brayden Thayer who shined offensively under the bright lights, finishing with a game-high 26 points after knocking down six 3-pointers.
“It’s very emotional,” Scott Thayer said of his senior guard and son. “He’s put so much time and energy in — as they all have. He played great today. He was the rock that kept the ball moving. When we were struggling scoring, he sensed it and made some shots when we needed him to. We were a little anxious to start. Their zone is a little funky but once we settled down and moved the ball, kicked it out we were fine.”
It was Thayer who kept the Panthers in it in the first quarter, scoring eight of Pioneer’s 10 points in the quarter after knocking down a pair of 3s and getting to the rim for two. Hopedale’s JJ Douglas hit a 3 at the buzzer though, giving the Blue Raiders an 11-10 lead after eight minutes.
It’s not often Pioneer finds itself trailing in a game, but there was no panic after being down following one quarter.
“They made a couple long shots,” Brayden Thayer said. “We didn’t make many shots in the first quarter. We just had to get in our stance and work. Once we made a few we got out to our lead.”
Like it did against Drury in the state semifinals, the Panther defense took over in the second quarter.
Hopedale’s Robbie Manning scored the opening basket of the frame but that was the lone basket the Blue Raiders (22-4) managed in the quarter as Pioneer closed the half on a 15-0 run to take its 25-13 lead at intermission.
Thayer got things started with a pair of 3s, Redeker tapped one home, Thayer got to the basket for two, McClelland tipped one in before senior Will Glazier swished a corner 3 to close out a monster quarter for the Panthers.
Patrick Madden — Hopedale’s leading scorer — was limited to just two points in the first half and five points going into the fourth quarter thanks to the defense of Redeker, who was tasked with locking down the guard on Saturday.
Madden finished with 13 points.
“I knew I had a task guarding [Madden] who was their best player averaging 17 [points] per game,” Redeker said. “I came in thinking I’m going to have to play some defense. That was my main goal today. I knew he was a lefty so was just trying to force him to take tough shots.”
The 3-pointers were falling for Pioneer in the third.
Madden opened the half with a bucket inside but Thayer responded with a 3 for the Panthers. When the Blue Raiders tried to play a box-and-one on Thayer, McClelland was open to hit back-to-back 3s.
Madden made a pair from the line to cut the deficit to 34-20 but Pioneer closed the third on an 8-0 run behind two baskets and a 3 from Thayer and a free throw from Redeker to take its 42-20 lead into the fourth.
It was yet another quarter where the Panthers limited their opponent to less than 10 points (seven).
“Playing defense this year was pretty fun,” Brayden Thayer said. “For us it always started on the defensive end. We play defense, get the rebound and run. It always starts on defense for us.”
McClelland scored five points in the fourth quarter as Pioneer milked the clock to capture the state title.
Making deep runs in the tournament the last three years but falling short made the win all the more satisfying for the Panthers.
“I was pretty excited,” McClelland said. “We finally got it done. It took us four years to do this.”
McClelland finished with 15 points, Redeker scored five points, Glazier scored three points while Judah Glenn added two points in the winning effort.
FINAL FOUR BOUND! Smith College takes down Gustavus Adolphus for third straight NCAA Div. 3 Final Four berth
Breaking down undefeated Pioneer’s downright dominant run to a state title
Div. 5 boys basketball: Pioneer enjoying final run together as state final Saturday approaches
