Riding high off a win over Greenfield last Friday, the Pioneer boys basketball team continued its strong play on Wednesday against Hopkins. 

The Panthers pulled ahead 42-20 at the half and outscored the Golden Hawks 18-9 in the third quarter to pull away with a 72-45 Hampshire League South victory at Messer Gymnasium. 

“We played how we want to play tonight,” Pioneer coach Scott Thayer said. “We played with energy and effort.” 

Brayden Thayer finished with 19 points, four rebounds and two steals in the win. Kurt Redeker did a bit of everything, scoring 12 points, snatching eight rebounds and dishing seven assists, Alex McClelland tossed in 10 points and distributed five assists, Josh Wood put in nine points and added six rebounds while William Glazier and Romello Rios each had six points for the Panthers. 

Girls basketball

Palmer 51, Mahar 47 (OT) — Trailing 34-33 going into the fourth quarter, the Sens were able to win the quarter and tie the game at 44 and force overtime. 

The Panther defense smothered Mahar in the overtime period, not allowing the Sens to convert a field goal as Palmer came away with a Franklin County League North win in Palmer on Wednesday. 

Irati Martinez tallied 14 points while Nevaeh Scribner finished with 12 points for the Senators. Alivia Patch finished with eight points, Haylee Paluk scored six points while Taylor Paluk added five points for Mahar. 

Preps

Mt. Institute Ski

The third Mt. Institute Ski League Race of the season took place on Wednesday at Berkshire East, with the Northfield Mount Hermon boys and girls ski team taking first while the Deerfield Academy boys and girls right behind in second. 

Hogger Ryan Choi was the winner in the boys race, coming down the mountain in a time of 41.62 seconds. Cody Vassar placed third (44.99), Cavan Finnerty took sixth (47.27), Ying Kay Leung came in eighth (47.91) and Zach Wells placed ninth (47.91) for NMH. 

Big Green’s Johnny Monty took second (44.09) while Beckett Baird (fifth, 46.42) and Andrew Lewis (seventh, 47.67) joined him in the top 10. 

In the girls race NMH had six of the top 10 finishers, led by Ellie Pinkham in second (47.30). Chiara Pinci took fourth (48.86), Vittoria Pinci placed fifth (48.91), Katalin Mazansky came in sixth    (49.08), Lara Paetzold took eighth (50.03) and Ludov ica Frecchiami finished in 10th (51.36). 

Deerfield’s Cecelia Cramer was the winner on Wednesday with a time of 47.20 seconds. Josephine Cramer (seventh, 49.19) and Jing Wang (ninth, 50.34) joined her in the top 10 for the Big Green. 

DA results

The Deerfield Academy girls hockey team defeated Pomfret, 12-0, on Wednesday to take home the Hastings Cup, which is up for grabs each year when the two teams square off. 

Also on Wednesday the Big Green boys hockey team beat Westminster (2-1), the DA boys squash team beat Westminster (7-0) and Millbrook (7-0), the Big Green girls squash team fell to Greenwich (7-0) while the DA boys basketball team fell to Kimball Union (55-53). 

Late Tuesday results

Drury 41, Mahar 34 — It was a defensive battle between two top 10 teams in the most recent MIAA Power Rankings in North Adams on Tuesday. 

The Senators closed the third quarter on a 6-0 run to cut the lead to 27-25 going into the fourth, but the Blue Devils went on a 9-2 run to open the fourth. Mahar   was unable to get back in the game from there, with Drury making its free throws late to earn a Hampshire League South win. 

"We are certainly making progress on the defensive end,” Senator coach Chad Softic said. “I thought we really worked hard, were smarter and communicated much better. However, on the offensive end we just didn't have anyone tonight that was confident in the scoring areas and we have really struggled on the road against quality teams. [Drury coach Jack] Racette's teams are always gritty and smart and this Drury team certainly fits the bill.”

Lucas Isrow finished with 10 points, Morgan Softic scored nine points, Marshall Ames tallied six points, Derek Collins recorded five points while Will Barnes had four points for Mahar. 

Nordic ski

The Mohawk Trail nordic ski team traveled to Notchview in Windsor for a race on Tuesday, with the Warrior boys placing third and the Mohawk Trail girls taking fourth. 

In the boys race Vincent Gauthier was the top Mohawk Trail finisher, taking 13th with a time of 16 minutes, 49 seconds. Augustus Niswonger took 14th (17:10), Adam Muller came in 25th (18:02), Curtis Casey finished in 26th (18:03) while Luke Pickard took 49th (24:05) to round out the top five Warrior finishers. 

In the girls race Charlotte Niswonger took seventh (21:41), Corinne Somes placed 12th (22:25), Anya Read came in 15th (22:46), Sadie Mahon-Moore finished in 35th (25:26) while Ada Corner placed 36th (25:27).