Boys basketball: With Pioneer’s Scott Thayer the newest 300-win member, digging deeper into all-time Franklin County coaching list

By JEFF LAJOIE

When Pioneer’s Scott Thayer reached the 300-win mark last week in the Panthers’ victory over Mount Greylock, he joined elite company among Recorder area boys basketball coaches.Thayer became just the fifth boys basketball coach in the area to topple...

UMass hockey: Minutemen looks to rebound against UConn after stumbling in Lake Placid

By THOMAS JOHNSTON

It wasn’t the trip to Lake Placid the Massachusetts hockey team was hoping for. Competing in the Adirondack Winter Invitational last week, the Minutemen went 0-1-1, falling to Cornell in a shootout (the game was officially scored as a tie) before...

UMass basketball: Bench steps up, Minutemen cruise past Duquesne 80-61 in Atlantic 10 opener

By GARRETT COTE

AMHERST — Almost nothing went the UMass men’s basketball team’s way in the first half of its Atlantic 10 season opener against Duquesne on Wednesday night.The Minutemen’s two leading scorers ended the half on the bench – as Josh Cohen picked up his...

High school hockey: Jake Jurek’s OT winner lifts Greenfield past Easthampton, 6-5 (PHOTOS)

By THOMAS JOHNSTON

Goals came early and often when the top two teams in the Wright Division got together at Lossone Rink on Wednesday.In the end, an overtime winner from Jake Jurek propelled Greenfield to a wild 6-5 victory over host Easthampton.Greenfield got out to a...

High school basketball: League title races shaping up across Franklin County and North Quabbin Region

By THOMAS JOHNSTON

As always seems to be the case with the winter sports season, it’s over before you know it. While the season began just a few weeks ago, most teams are around one-third of the way through their regular season slate. League title races are shaping up...

Boys basketball: Pioneer routs Mount Greylock, gives coach Scott Thayer career win No. 300 (PHOTOS)

By JEFF LAJOIE

NORTHFIELD — Another dominant win by the Pioneer boys basketball team was a milestone one for head coach Scott Thayer.The Panthers’ 72-25 victory over visiting Mount Greylock at Messer Gymnasium on Tuesday night was win No. 300 in Thayer’s coaching...

Boys basketball: Mahar outscores Athol 22-7 in fourth quarter to earn comeback victory 

By THOMAS JOHNSTON

ATHOL — Things weren’t looking good going into the fourth quarter for the Mahar boys basketball team against rival Athol on Tuesday. The Senators trailed an unbeaten Bears squad 42-32 going into the final eight minutes, but Mahar saved its best for...

Swimming: Turners Falls drops pair to Ludlow (PHOTOS)

Visiting Ludlow posted a pair of victories in the pool on Tuesday, earning a road sweep over Turners Falls High School.On the boys’ side, Ludlow snagged a 54-31 victory. Liam Bliss qualified for the state championship meet in the 100-yard backstroke...

Bulletin Board: Wright, Zilinski capture Sawmill River 10K titles on New Year’s Day

Over 100 athletes competed in the Sawmill River 10K Run on New Year’s Day in Montague Center, with Owen Wright crossing first as the male winner and Anna Zilinski the female winner. Wright, of Boulder, Colo., was the first runner across the finish...

UMass basketball: Minutemen set to open Atlantic 10 play against Duquesne

By GARRETT COTE

AMHERST — After 12 non-conference games that included a lengthy trip to Hawaii, the new year brings Atlantic 10 Conference play back to the Mullins Center for the UMass men’s basketball team.The Minutemen finished 9-3 in those contests, and on...

US advances to world junior semifinals; Canada gets knocked out by UMass goalie Michael Hrabal, Czechia

GOTHENBURG, Sweden (AP) — Gabe Perreault scored twice and six other players had a goal as the U.S. routed Latvia 7-2 Tuesday to advance to the semifinals of the IIHF world junior championship.Perreault, the New York Rangers’ 2023 first-round pick,...

Indoor track: Plenty of Franklin County winners as PVIAC Meet No. 2 takes place on Sunday

The second PVIAC indoor track meet of the season took place on Sunday at Smith College in Northampton. Frontier and Mohawk Trail competed in the early race. The Redhawk girls defeated the Warriors (78-17) and Baystate (95-0) while the Frontier boys...

Div. 5 volleyball: Madison Park Voc storms back to defeat Pioneer in state tourney opener (PHOTOS)

By THOMAS JOHNSTON

NORTHFIELD — In the middle of the second set it looked like the Pioneer volleyball team was heading toward a berth in the MIAA Division 5 Round of 32. Taking on No. 35 Madison Park Vocational in the preliminary round on Wednesday, the 30th-ranked...

Boys soccer: No. 7 McCann scores three straight goals to knock off No. 2 Athol, 3-2

By THOMAS JOHNSTON

ATHOL — Through the opening 30 minutes Thursday night against McCann Tech, it looked like the Athol boys soccer team was going to cruise into the Western Mass. Class C semifinals. The second-seeded Bears scored twice in those first 30 minutes of its...

High schools: Frontier volleyball sweeps Ludlow in regular season finale

The Frontier girls volleyball capped its regular season in winning fashion on Friday night.On the road at Ludlow, the Redhawks handled their business en route to a 25-17, 25-18, 25-11 independent sweep over the Lions. Frontier improved to 14-5 on the...

UMass football: Toledo rights the ship in the second half to rally past Minutemen, 41-24

By GEORGE MILLER

AMHERST – UMass was clearly at its best very early in the game and coming down the end of the first half Saturday, with its first halftime lead of the season, but the Minutemen couldn't sustain that level over the final two quarters at McGuirk Alumni...

Paige King, Savannah Simmons recipients of inaugural Bob and Pat Hinds Scholarship Award

By THOMAS JOHNSTON

The inaugural Coach Bob and Pat Hinds Scholarship Award was handed out to a pair of student-athletes at Mohawk Trail Regional last week. The scholarship, which will give $1,000 to two graduating seniors each year moving forward, was awarded to Paige...

Bulletin Board: Greenfield alum Kelsey Richardson helps lead Herkimer College to the 2023 NJCAA Div. III Softball World Series

It’s been a freshman season to remember for Greenfield alum Kelsey Richardson with the Herkimer College softball team. Richardson — who helped lead the Green Wave to a state championship last spring — was named captain in her first season and played a...

Women’s basketball: Greenfield’s Sam Smith has Babson College in Div. 3 Sweet 16

By THOMAS JOHNSTON

Sam Smith is looking to close out her senior season with a bang. The Greenfield High School alum has the Babson women’s basketball team on the brink of making program history. The Beavers locked up a spot in the NCAA Div. 3 tournament following a 23-5...

On The Ridge: Tips for enjoying winter outdoor time

Here we are a little more than 2½ weeks into the new year, and thus far the weather has been more than cooperative for spending time in the outdoors, which can reduce stress, boost your mood, and even bolster the immune system. And there is no time...