HS Roundup: Pioneer boys basketball moves to 10-0 following 70-53 victory over Frontier (PHOTOS)

Frontier’s Max Millette drives to the rim while guarded by Pioneer’s Brayden Thayer on Friday at Goodnow Gymnasium in South Deerfield.

Frontier’s Max Millette drives to the rim while guarded by Pioneer’s Brayden Thayer on Friday at Goodnow Gymnasium in South Deerfield. STAFF PHOTO/THOMAS JOHNSTON

Pioneer's Kurt Redeker goes up for a layup while Frontier's Garrett Dredge (11) skies up to contest the shot on Friday at Goodnow Gymnasium in South Deerfield.

Pioneer's Kurt Redeker goes up for a layup while Frontier's Garrett Dredge (11) skies up to contest the shot on Friday at Goodnow Gymnasium in South Deerfield. STAFF PHOTO/THOMAS JOHNSTON

Frontier’s Alex Ellis drives to the rim against Pioneer on Friday at Goodnow Gymnasium in South Deerfield.

Frontier’s Alex Ellis drives to the rim against Pioneer on Friday at Goodnow Gymnasium in South Deerfield. STAFF PHOTO/THOMAS JOHNSTON

Frontier's Eric Larsson looks to throw a pass over Pioneer's Alex McClelland on Friday at Goodnow Gymnasium in South Deerfield.

Frontier's Eric Larsson looks to throw a pass over Pioneer's Alex McClelland on Friday at Goodnow Gymnasium in South Deerfield. STAFF PHOTO/THOMAS JOHNSTON

Pioneer’s Brayden Thayer takes a shot while Frontier’s Carter Miller puts a hand up on Friday at Goodnow Gymnasium in South Deerfield.

Pioneer’s Brayden Thayer takes a shot while Frontier’s Carter Miller puts a hand up on Friday at Goodnow Gymnasium in South Deerfield. STAFF PHOTO/THOMAS JOHNSTON

Staff Reports

Published: 01-17-2025 9:29 PM

Late in the second quarter, the Frontier boys basketball team was threatening to disrupt Pioneer’s unbeaten season. 

The Panthers walked into Goodnow Gymnasium sporting a 9-0 record but it was Redhawk Alex Ellis who caught fire in the second quarter, knocking down a trio of 3-pointers that helped keep Frontier in it, the third cutting the Pioneer lead to 27-23 with two minutes to go until the intermission. 

The Panthers took over from there. Pioneer ended the half on a 7-2 run capped off by a Brayden Thayer jumper just before the buzzer and the Panthers proceeded to outscore the Redhawks 25-10 in the third, allowing Pioneer to pull away with a 70-53 Hampshire League South victory. 

Thayer finished with a game-high 28 points in the win. Kurt Redeker tossed in 22 points, Alex McClelland tallied 15 points while Will Glazier added five points for the Panthers. 

Max Millette tallied 21 points, Ellis finished with 17 points, Ty Skroski scored five points while Garrett Dredge and Rowan Modestow each contributed four points in the loss. 

Athol 68, Smith Academy 47 — It was the kind of game Bear coach Brian Patria was waiting to see from his team, as Athol raced out to a 38-19 halftime lead to defeat the Falcons at Mallet Gymnasium Friday. 

“We played good team basketball,” Patria said. “Players really step up defensively and made shots tonight. They played with confidence.”

Ben Kearney scored a team-high 18 points while Ethan Bacigalupo (15), Aaron Ouellet (12) and Ethan Goodwin (11) joined him in double figures in the victory for the Bears. 

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Mahar 63, Turners 51 — The Senators led 41-20 at the half but the Thunder outscored them 31-21 in the second half to get back in it, though Mahar was able to hang on for an independent victory in Turners Friday. 

Derek Collins and Jayden Delgado each finished with 16 points, Morgan Softic scored 14 points while Marshall Ames added 13 points in the win for the Senators. 

Jackson Cogswell led Turners with 17 points, Alex Quezada scored 12 points, Caden Williams scored seven points and Cameron Johnson added six points in the loss. 

Greenfield 76, Lenox 63 — A 27-point performance from Jon Breor powered the Green Wave past the Millionaires at Nichols Gymnasium Friday. 

Caleb Thomas recorded 18 points, Grayson Thomas scored 13 points while Caleb Murray added 12 points for Greenfield. 

Girls basketball

Pioneer 35, Mohawk Trail 26 — Trailing 17-16 at the half, the Pan thers outscored the Warriors 19-9 in the final 16 minutes of action to earn a Franklin County League South victory in Northfield Friday. 

Kyler McClelland tallied 11 points and nine rebounds, Natalie Rios scored seven points to go along with eight rebounds and four steals, Maggie Tsipenyuk recorded seven points while Kiara Gruszkowski scored five points and added seven boards in the win. 

Bella Pettengill finished with eight points, Natalie Lanoue and Valerie Bzomowski each scored six points while Emmalee Inman recorded four points for Mohawk Trail. 

Boys swimming

Turners 110, Monson 40 — Malcolm Tyler won the 200 free (two minutes, 22.55 seconds) while William Tyler took the 200 IM (2:41.53) and the 100 free (1:03.81) in the Thunder’s road victory Friday. 

Liam Bliss added victories in the 100 fly (1:00.41) and 100 breast (1:14.55) for Turners. 

Girls swimming

Turners 95, Monson 71 — Sigrid Calhoun won the dive (133.95 score), Sylvie DiBartolomeo took the 100 back (1:14.88) and Lilian Walker-Hanning finished first in the 100 breast (1:21.67) for the Thunder in a victory over the Mustangs in Monson Friday. 

Thursday results

Girls basketball

Hampden Charter 45, Athol 42 — The Bears trailed 37-29 going into the fourth but came on strong in the final eight minutes. Athol was unable to complete the comeback however, as it fell on the road Thursday. 

Ava Martin scored 13 points, Abigayle Spooner tossed in 11 points, Ava Adams recorded seven points while Ally Robertson added five points for the Bears.