It took the Frontier Regional boys offense a half of basketball to find its rhythm Thursday against Athol, and when it did, the points came quick and fast in an 81-46 victory.
Leading 35-25 at the break, the Red Hawks outpaced Athol 46-19 in the second half of play to earn an 81-46 victory at Goodnow Gymnasium.
“We really turned it on in the second half,” Frontier coach Ben Barshefsky said. “We started pushing the ball better and penetrating the zone with crisp passing to get open shots.”
Joe Thomson led the Red Hawks with 16 points, with Ethan Machon chipping in 14 points in the win.
Vinnie Gordon was Athol’s leading scorer with 13 points.
Hopkins Academy 65, Mohawk Trail 32 – Andrew Ciaglo made five 3s and scored 17 points in a road win. Tyler Verdi and Lucas Stone each contributed 10 points, while Colin Earle had eight.
Frontier Regional 52, Athol 12 — Kaitlyn Mackin scored 15 points, as the Red Hawks won on the road. Kylie Laford added 10 points, and Charlotte Doulette contributed seven.
Hopkins Academy 48, Mohawk Trail 28 – Kacey Earle poured in a career-high four 3s and 22 points in a home win with five steals. Gabby Dyjack had nine points and seven rebounds. Sara Beauchamp added seven points and four rebounds.
Freshman Anna Dyjack scored five points.
“Our defense really had an impact in the third and fourth quarters,” Hopkins coach Mike Prattico said.
Amherst Regional 46, Ware 35 – Mayouri Yath scored 12 points and made big shots down the stretch, as the Hurricanes won on the road.
Delaney MacPhetres had 18 points to lead Amherst.
Northampton’s Nate Jones won the boys slalom at the fourth PVIAC race of the season at Berkshire East on Thursday. He crossed the finish line first in 32.15 seconds. Hampshire Regional occupied the rest of the podium with Edward Przybyla in second (32.87) and Zach Ames in third (33.62). Dawson Kelly took sixth for the Raiders (34.88)
Pioneer Valley Chinese Immersion Charter’s Sebastian English finished seventh (35.08).
Beckett Baird of Amherst was 12th (36.57).
In the girls giant slalom, Northampton’s Chloe Denhart placed second (25.46). Hampshire’s Summer Duda took third (25.92).
Ellie Mahoney finished fourth for the Blue Devils (26.02).
Juliet Scott was ninth for PVCICS (26.66).
Sea Kay Leung followed in 10th for Amherst (26.78).