High schools: Top-seeded Williston cruises past St. Paul’s, into NEPSAC Class A semis (PHOTOS)

EASTHAMPTON – The Williston Northampton boys basketball team took care of business in its NEPSAC Class A first-round playoff win against St. Paul’s on Wednesday at The Sabina Cain Family Athletic Center. The top-seeded Wildcats thumped the eighth-ranked Big Red, 82-61, and were led by Preston Edmead’s 31 points as Williston advanced to the semifinal round for the first time in two years.

“We knew that they were a formidable opponent, we played them two weeks ago,” Wildcats head coach Ben Farmer said of St. Paul’s. “We knew how much firepower they had and how good of a team they were. Very well-coached, they played very hard, they’re physical, so we knew it was going to be a tough game. Throw out seeds, throw out records right now, the guys really locked in starting Monday in practice and it showed out there tonight. They competed, they played for each other, they communicated at high level, so I’m very proud of the performance.”

Williston managed 13 3-pointers as a team, which helped the hosts pull away from St. Paul’s early in the first half, specifically, and looked to be the difference throughout the 32-minute affair.

“It was a close game there, I think we were up six, eight, maybe 10 [points], and we talked about this. We would have that opportunity and it’s either we can push this thing to 20 maybe, or you’re going to get comfortable and let them get back in the game, which they did to us two weeks ago,” Farmer said. “The guys really learned from it and they really raised their level. I know we were making shots but it was more about the rebounding, the little things people can’t see, and that turned into all the offense.”

Behind Edmead, the Wildcats got 17 points from Ashton Reynolds, 15 points from Ore Odutayo and 10 points from Ricardo Nieves. Renolds in particular had a strong performance as the senior was just as confident beyond the arc as he was in the paint, knocking down 3s and throwing down monster dunks in the postseason opener.

“Incredible player, incredible kid, incredible athlete, and he’s just scratching the surface,” Farmer said. “We’re asking him to do things that he’s never had to do before. How he guards off the basketball, how he plays offense off the basketball, little things and he’s just so coachable. He wants to learn, he wants to get better, he never fights me on any coaching, so it’s a pleasure to have him.”

Williston poured in a majority of its total points during the first half as it led 51-29 going into the break. 

The Wildcats will play the winner of No. 4 Choate Rosemary Hall and No. 5 Dexter Southfield next in the semifinals on Saturday back in Easthampton.

Girls hockey

NEPSAC Elite quarterfinals

No. 1 Williston 7, No. 8 Groton 2 — Nora Curtis netted a hat trick, and the top-seeded Wildcats cruised into the semifinals thanks to a 7-2 win on Wednesday at Lossone Rink in Easthampton.

Violet Carroll tallied twice for Williston, which also received goals from Catie Putt and Mia Daley. Liv Ferebee made 26 saves to help the Wildcats advance.

Williston will host No. 5 Andover in Saturday’s semifinal round back at Lossone.

Girls basketball

Div. 4 Round of 16

No. 4 Bourne 64, No. 13 Frontier 60 — The Frontier girls basketball team was feeling upset-minded Wednesday night on the Cape.

The 13th-seeded Redhawks got off to a strong start against No. 4 Bourne and carried a lead at halftime — important in any tournament upset attempt. They held that lead into the fourth quarter, before the Canalmen ripped off a 10-0 run that forced Frontier to play catch-up. The Hawks stayed within striking distance but could never regain their lead, ultimately falling 64-60 in a wild MIAA Division 4 Round of 16 contest in Bourne.

Bourne (21-2) advanced to host No. 5 Cohasset in the state quarterfinals.

Whitney Campbell’s 3-pointer with 6 minutes, 24 seconds remaining gave Frontier a 50-46 advantage. But Bourne responded with a 10-0 run, snatching control of the game via a 56-50 lead.

Frontier didn’t go away. Skyler Steele sank a 3 with 3:10 to play, and Addie Harrington later hit a 3 to make it 59-57 Bourne with 1:50 to play.

Trailing 61-57 on the next possession, Claire Kirkendall hit another 3 for the Hawks, this one cutting the deficit to 61-60 with 1:09 to go.

Frontier (18-4) had a look to take the lead inside the final minute, but turnover with 35 seconds left led to a pair of Bourne free throws on the other end. Steele’s 3 to tie the game rimmed out with 18 seconds left, and Bourne made one of two from the stripe with 14.7 seconds left to make it a two-possession game. The Hawks were unable to get any closer in the 64-60 final.

The Hawks led 14-11 after one quarter, using a 9-0 run between the first and second quarters to take a 20-11 advantage at one point. The visitors held a 28-23 halftime lead on the road.

Kirkendall’s 3 with 3:00 left in the third had the Hawks up 40-36, but Bourne answered with a 10-2 run to close out the quarter and take a 46-42 advantage into the final stanza.