The Pioneer boys basketball team flipped the script with three minutes to go in the third quarter against Greenfield on Friday in a massive Hampshire League South showdown. 

The Green Wave held a narrow 23-22 lead at the half and extended it to 34-28 following a basket inside from Jon Breor with three minutes to go in the third. 

It was all the Panthers from there, however. 

Hugh Cyhowski scored inside, Kurt Redeker converted an and-one, Brayden Thayer converted a four-point play after making a 3 while being fouled, and Alex McClelland swished a 3 with one minute to go in the third. In a span of two minutes, Pioneer went on a 12-0 run to take a 40-34 lead, a score that held into the fourth quarter. 

Josh Wood and Brayden Thayer opened the fourth quarter with baskets before Breor ended the Green Wave’s dry spell with a bucket inside with 5:30 to play. Thayer followed it up with a personal 7-0 run that put the Panthers up, 51-36, with four minutes left. Pioneer hung on to walk away with a 60-43 victory at Messer Gymnasium. 

“We needed something positive to happen,” said Panthers coach Scott Thayer, whose team entered the game on a two-game losing skid. “We made it happen with hard work. The second half we played with more of a purpose and that was the difference.”

Brayden Thayer scored all 17 of his points in the second half and added three steals for Pioneer (8-2). Redeker finished with 14 points, six rebounds and seven assists, Cyhowski tallied 13 points and seven rebounds, McClelland scored six points and swiped three steals while Wood scored 10 points in the victory. 

Breor led Greenfield (6-3) with 12 points. Grayson Thomas finished with 10 points, Caleb Thomas scored nine points while Caleb Murray, Oli Postera and Jacob Blanchard each had four points in the loss.  

Athol 64, Lee 36 — The Bears got the ever-important 10th win of their season on Friday to lock up a spot in the postseason, knocking off the Wildcats at Mallet Gymnasium in a Hampshire League North contest. 

“My guys committed to playing solid defense,” Athol coach Brian Patria said. “Our defense is our best offense and we did that tonight. Angel [Castillo] was leader with Ethan Bacigalupo playing well. Ben Kearney contributed as usual and he makes every out there better. My bench stepped it up and played excellent.”

Castillo paved the way with 21 points in the win. Kearney tallied 10 points, Bacigalupo tossed in nine points, Colby Goodwin scored five points while Hayden Barrieau and Dominic St. Andre both scored four points for the Bears (10-1). 

Mahar 87, Hopkins 42 — Jayden Delgado (20 points, 10 rebounds) and Lucas Isrow (13 points, 10 assists) both recorded double-doubles for the Senators, which cruised to a Hampshire League South win in Orange on Friday. 

Morgan Softic finished with 18 points, Mason Grummell scored 10 points, Derek Collins tallied seven points while Marshall Ames finished with six points and 10 rebounds for Mahar. 

“We really played well tonight,” Senators coach Chad Softic said. “It was just a great effort tonight top to bottom. We stressed defensive urgency every possession and no turnovers and the kids delivered. Lucas had 10 assists tonight and it could have been 20. It was nice to Morgan have some shots fall for him as well. Our interior of Marshall, Jayden and Will [Barnes] really set the tone for us though defensively.”

Hampshire 54, Turners 37 — The Raiders took a 28-19 lead into the half and outscored the Thunder 20-8 in the third to pull away with a Hampshire League North win in Westhampton on Friday. 

Jackson Cogswell finished with 14 points, Joey Mosca scored five points while Cam Burnett, Branden Truesdell, Caden Williams-Senethavisouk and Dylen Richardson each had four  points for Turners. 

Smith Academy 56, Franklin Tech 46 — The Falcons led 24-17 at the half and kept the Eagles at arms length throughout the final 16 minutes to earn a Hampshire League North victory in Turners on Friday. 

Robert Belval tossed in 14 points, Tyler Lafountain scored 12 points, Gabe Mota finished with six points while Jack Gancarz tallied five points for Franklin Tech. 

Deerfield Academy

The Deerfield Academy girls hockey team earned its 10th straight win on Friday, defeating New Hampton, 4-2.