H.S. Roundup: Frontier girls roll past Hopkins

Local coaches expect the Frontier girls basketball team to be among the best in Franklin County this winter.

The Red Hawks made quite an opening statement Tuesday night, rolling to a 52-16 victory over Hopkins Academy at Goodnow Gymnasium in South Deerfield in what was the season opener for Frontier after not playing games a week ago.

Frontier took control from the start, using a stout defensive effort to limit visiting Hopkins to just nine points at halftime. The hosts led 21-9 at intermission and expanded the lead to 42-16 after three quarters. Hopkins was held off the scoreboard over the game’s final eight minutes.

Kaitlyn Mackin led all scorers with 13 points for the Red Hawks, while teammate Kylie Laford joined her in double figures with 10 points. Alena Maes-Polan chipped in with nine points.

Frontier will next host Turners Falls on Thursday night.

Greenfield 69, Athol 16 – Host Greenfield stormed out of the gates, jumping out to a 19-2 lead after one quarter en route to a 69-16 victory over Athol on Tuesday at Nichols Gymnasium.

Katie Haselton drained a pair of 3-pointers and finished with a game-high 26 points for the Green Wave, which led 38-5 at halftime. The output lifted Haselton into the No. 2 spot in GHS girls basketball history, surpassing Ann Brissette who scored 1,333 points during her time with the program. Raegan Hickey is the top scorer in school history with 1,522 points. 

Lillia Kachelmeyer followed with 12 points, while Amber Bergeron joined them in double figures with 10 points. Azemina Cecunjanin filled up the box score with three points, eight rebounds, five assists and four steals, and Tess Rancourt went for six points and 10 rebounds. Eva Pruitt-Dahlf and Alina Cecunjanin chipped in six points apiece.

Athol’s Reily Polana paced the visitors with nine points, including a 3-pointer. Emma Bacigalupo added three points.

Hopkins 59, Frontier 41 – Andrew Ciaglo scored 19 points, and host Hopkins Academy used a big second quarter where it outscored Frontier by a 17-3 margin to score a 59-41 victory in boys hoop action Tuesday night in Hadley.

Frontier, playing its first game of the season, trailed 16-10 after one quarter before falling into a 33-13 deficit at intermission.

Frontier’s Joe Thomson led his side with 16 points. Ethan Machon drilled a trio of 3-pointers and totaled nine points.