The Recorder – High schools: Franklin Tech uses big 1st quarter to pull away from Athol (PHOTOS)

Published: 2022-12-29 21:22:34

As 2022 comes to a close, the Franklin Tech girls basketball team will be sad to see it go.

The Eagles improved to a perfect 6-0 on the season Thursday night, posting a 46-24 victory over Athol in a Franklin County League contest played in Turners Falls.

Tech jumped out to a 13-2 lead after one quarter and held a 22-11 advantage at halftime. Kyra Goodell led a balanced attack with 12 points, while Lea Chapman followed with eight points and Kaitlin Trudeau added six. In total, nine different Eagles found their way onto the scoreboard.

Athol (2-1) got seven points from Emma Bacigapulo and six from Jenna Bonenfant.

Frontier 55, Ware 41 – A 23-point second quarter propelled the Redhawks to their sixth straight win to open the season Thursday.

Frontier (6-0) led 32-18 at halftime.

Kylie Laford powered the offensive attack with 19 points, including five 3-pointers. Laford hit 13 of her 19 field goals in that big second quarter, drilling a 3-pointer in the process.

Delaney Fifield scored in every quarter and finished with 11 points, while Claire Kirkendall finished with 11 points

Palmer 53, Greenfield 45 – Tied in the fourth quarter, host Palmer outscored the Green Wave by a 17-9 margin over the final eight minutes to grab a win Thursday.

Amber Bergeron’s 23 points led all scorers for Greenfield. Lillia Kachelmeyer followed with eight points, while the Wave also got offensive contributions from Elderina Cecunjanin (5 points), Carly Blanchard (4), Anna Bucala (3) and Josie Cloutier (2).

Lenox 53, Mahar 49 — Kendrah Doane scored a game-high 20 points and grabbed 10 rebounds for an impressive double-double, but the visiting Senators were unable to claw their way back in a tight loss to the Millionaires on Thursday in Lenox.

“Close the game out all the way,” Mahar coach Stephen Bonk offered.

Doane was 5-for-8 from 3-point range for Mahar (2-2), which trailed just 25-24 at halftime and 34-31 entering the fourth. Nevaeh Scribner (13 points) and Sophia Woods (11) joined Doane in double figures.

Lee 43, Mohawk Trail 15 – The visiting Wildcats stormed out of the gates, taking a 19-0 lead after one quarter en route to a win Thursday at Buckland.

The Warriors (0-4) were paced offensively by Natalie Lanoue’s seven points, while Rachel Pease poured in five points and Riley Giard added a pair.

Lee (1-3) was led by Mia Puller’s 19 points.

Hockey

East Longmeadow 4, Greenfield 3 (OT) – Playing for the third time in as many nights, the Green Wave saw their winning streak come to an end Thursday.

The host Spartans held off Greenfield, 4-3, for a shutout win at the Olympia Ice Center in West Springfield that stopped the Wave’s three-game winning streak. Carson LePage scored the game-winning goal 15 seconds into overtime for East Longmeadow.

“Really tough to go three games in a row, but a great high school hockey game,” Greenfield coach Adam Bouchard said.

Greenfield (4-3), which won the Chicopee Holiday Tournament on Wednesday thanks to an OT win over Gardner, led 2-0 after one period. The club got goals from Brodie Gagne, Matt Garvin and Jake Jurek. Jack Laurie, Jayson Smith, Hunter Smith, Gagne and Luca Siano all had assists. Joshua Bordeaux made 24 saves on 28 shots.

Next up for the Wave is a road game against Minnechaug on Jan. 5.