UMass women’s basketball: Minutewomen cruise past Stonehill, 86-40, in opening round of WNIT

By RYAN AMES

AMHERST – Freshman Yahmani McKayle’s triple-double powered the UMass women’s basketball team past Stonehill, 86-40, during the opening round of the WNIT on Thursday at the Mullins Center.

A winning culture: Former coach Perry Messer reflects on Pioneer’s unbeaten season

By THOMAS JOHNSTON

While Perry Messer is busy coaching the Northampton girls basketball team these days, you can bet he’s still keeping up with his alma mater and former team. 

On the Ridge with Joe Judd: How to live with bears

Yes, it’s the same old story told. But it’s a story worth telling again, and should be heard amongst the masses from here to Cape Cod, as the black bears begin to leave their dens, and start surfacing again! During this time of year, one of the main topics of discussion, which always seems to find me here, On the Ridge, is black bear sightings, which are beginning again as I write this. And what do we expect? With black bear populations at an all-time high, it’s natural to anticipate these springtime sightings, as their search for food pulls them away from their dens and once again out and amongst us!

HS Notebook: State tourney runs for Western Mass. teams measure up with past years

By THOMAS JOHNSTON

How did Western Mass. basketball teams do in the state tournament compared to years past? Let’s take a look.

UMass Hockey: Standout forward Cole O’Hara in the mix for Hobey Baker Award

By RYAN AMES

I’ll admit it, I didn’t think UMass hockey forward Cole O’Hara would be a legitimate Hobey Baker Memorial Award candidate. When it was announced on Jan. 22 that O’Hara and Aydar Suniev were two of the more than 90 nominees in all of college hockey, I didn’t think much of it at the time.

UMass Minutewomen earn WNIT berth

By GARRETT COTE

AMHERST — The stellar turnaround of Mike Leflar and his UMass women’s basketball team has earned them a chance to play postseason basketball, as their final season representing the Atlantic 10 isn’t over quite yet.

Bulletin Board: Greenfield 5-6 Suburban League squad takes home league championship

Wesley Darling scored 21 points and pulled down 15 rebounds to help the Greenfield 5/6 grade Suburban League squad capture a league title on Friday, as Greenfield beat Palmer, 48-36 in the championship game. 

Greenfield defenseman William Petrin receives 2025 Boston Bruins-MIAA Sportsmanship Award

By THOMAS JOHNSTON

Greenfield coach Adam Bouchard says he’s most proud when one of his players is selected for the Boston Bruins-MIAA Sportsmanship Award.

Behind the scenes as the Mullins Center staff hosts basketball, hockey games in same day

By GARRETT COTE

AMHERST — On two separate occasions this winter, Mullins Center staff spilled onto Jack Leaman Court as soon as the final horn sounded to end a UMass men’s basketball game. They aren’t typically in a huge rush to break down equipment, especially if the next event to take place in the arena is another basketball game, but the Minutemen hockey team had a game about five hours later – they needed to change the hardwood to the ice in time for warm-ups.

FINAL FOUR BOUND! Smith College takes down Gustavus Adolphus for third straight NCAA Div. 3 Final Four berth

A 22-point game from Ally Landau helped the Smith College basketball team advance past Gustavus Adolphus, 61-50, in the Elite Eight of the NCAA Division 3 women’s tournament on Saturday.

UMass hockey: Minutemen battle back, but Boston University’s Cole Eiserman nets OT winner in 3-2 Hockey East quarterfinal win

By RYAN AMES

BOSTON – The No. 14 UMass hockey team fell to No. 9 Boston University in overtime, 3-2, during the quarterfinal round of the Hockey East Playoffs on Saturday at Agganis Arena.

Breaking down undefeated Pioneer’s downright dominant run to a state title

By THOMAS JOHNSTON

LOWELL — Over the course of a long season, every team is susceptible to a bad night. 

Community support aids Pioneer boys basketball team in dominant state title win over Hopedale

By JEFF LAJOIE

LOWELL – Scott Thayer turned to the swarm of Pioneer fans in the stands and raised both fists in the air. Just a few feet away, his son, Brayden Thayer, dribbled out the final seconds of the Panthers’ dominant 49-28 state championship game victory over Hopedale at the Tsongas Center.

PERFECTION! No. 1 Pioneer cruises past Hopedale 49-28 to capture MIAA Division 5 state title

By THOMAS JOHNSTON

LOWELL — For the first time in 28 years, a boys basketball state championship trophy is heading back to Northfield. 

Bulletin board: FCHA Bantams capture championship

The 14U FCHA Bantam squad captured a GSL Championship last weekend, taking two of three in a series against the Springfield Yellow Jackets to win the title. 

Div. 5 boys basketball: Pioneer enjoying final run together as state final Saturday approaches

By THOMAS JOHNSTON

NORTHFIELD — Pioneer boys basketball coach Scott Thayer remembers looking up after defeating Hopkins Academy to win the 2018 Div. 4 West sectional title and seeing his son, Brayden Thayer, and his friends watching from above the indoor track at the Curry Hicks Cage in Amherst.

MIAA Division 5 boys basketball final: Top-seeded Pioneer one win away from undefeated season, state championship

By THOMAS JOHNSTON

NORTHFIELD — The end goal is in sight for the Pioneer boys basketball team. 

MIAA tourneys by the numbers: Pioneer seeking Franklin County's 6th state basketball title all time

By JEFF LAJOIE

State championship weekend (a three-day affair!) is upon us.

UMass football: New defensive coordinator Jared Keyte pleased with Minutemen’s opening week of spring practice

By GARRETT COTE

AMHERST — When Joe Harasymiak accepted the UMass football head coaching job back in early December, a handful of members on the Rutgers staff – where Harasymiak was previously the defensive coordinator – were excited for him. They also wanted to go with him based on the relationships they had built with him over the course of their time together.

UMass hockey: Minutemen hold off Vermont 2-1, advance to Hockey East quarterfinals

By RYAN AMES

AMHERST – Survive and advance is the name of the game during playoff hockey and that’s exactly what the No. 14 UMass hockey team did in its 2-1 win against Vermont on Wednesday at the Mullins Center.