After back-to-back league losses, the Pioneer boys basketball team was in need of a big win Friday night. With undefeated Duggan Academy in town, the Panthers found a way to get their season back on track.
It was a balanced scoring effort as the Panthers handed the Jayhawks their first loss of the season, 51-45, at Messer Gymnasium in Northfield.
“We needed to prove to ourselves that we could beat a good team,” Pioneer head coach Scott Thayer said.
Pioneer, which was ranked No. 4 in the most recent Division 5 Power Rankings, improved to 10-4 overall. Duggan, which was No. 8 in Friday’s rankings, dropped to 14-1.
Pioneer struggled offensively in the second quarter, scoring just six points to fall into a 24-17 halftime deficit.
The hosts regained the lead 37-36 entering the fourth quarter, and used a big 3-pointer from Hugh Cyhowski with 4:35 remaining to take a 44-41 lead.
Josh Wood helped seal the deal late, as his layup with 1:02 left made it a two-possession game. The Panthers held firm defensively, and picked up win No. 10 in the process.
“We showed some grit and resiliency in the second half,” Thayer said.
Pioneer’s Brayden Thayer scored a team-high 15 points to go with five assists and four rebounds. Alex McClelland drilled a trio of 3-pointers and finished with 12 points, while Cyhowski put together an impressive double-double of 11 points and 12 rebounds. Down low, Wood pulled down a season-high nine rebounds to go with an 11-point outing.
Pioneer now takes to the road for a trio of Hampshire League South games next week. That stretch begins with Hopkins Academy on Tuesday in Hadley.
Greenfield 59, South Hadley 57 – The Green Wave picked up a huge road victory on Friday night.
In a battle of top 16 teams in Division 4, Greenfield held on for a 59-57 independent victory in South Hadley.
The Wave, ranked No. 14 in the most recent Div. 4 Power Rankings, improved to 10-4 with the win. South Hadley, No. 12 in the rankings, dropped to 8-6. Additional details weren’t available at print deadline.
Frontier 71, Hampshire 45 – A dominant fourth quarter powered the Redhawks to a convincing victory on Friday night.
Frontier outscored the visiting Raiders 27-12 in the fourth quarter, pulling away for a 71-45 independent win at Goodnow Gymnasium in South Deerfield.
Frontier (7-6) led just 27-25 at halftime but stretched the advantage to 44-34 after three quarters.
Girls basketball
Greenfield 64, Hopkins 20 — It was the Amber Bergero n show, as the senior dropped a season-high 40 points as the Green Wave cruised above the .500 mark on the season with a lopsided Franklin County League North win on Thursday night.
Greenfield improved to 7-6 overall with the victory.
Carly Blanchard finished with 12 points while Anna Buca la and Tayler Bergeron each had five points for the Green Wave.