UMass basketball: Minutemen grind down La Salle in second half, pull away for 81-65 victory

By GARRETT COTE

AMHERST — It may not have been the prettiest display of basketball the UMass men’s team has shown this season, but the Minutemen held La Salle to just two points over a seven-minute stretch in the second half to pull away.UMass used 24 points and...

H.S. Roundup: Athol boys basketball takes down Mount Greylock in Hampshire League North showdown

Since the realignment in 2021, the Mount Greylock boys basketball team hadn’t lost a game in the Hampshire League North. That changed on Wednesday when the Mounties made the trip to Mallet Gymnasium to take on Athol. The Bears roared out to a 17-2...

Girls hockey: Deerfield Academy explodes offensively in 9-1 rout of NMH (PHOTOS)

By THOMAS JOHNSTON

DEERFIELD — Deerfield Academy girls hockey coach Brooke Fernandez couldn’t have asked for a more complete performance from her squad on Wednesday against Northfield Mount Hermon. The first meeting of the season between the two rivals saw DA walk away...

Without much snow, Mohawk Trail cross country ski team has to get creative, and stay flexible

By THOMAS JOHNSTON

While many around Franklin County were displeased shoveling out after the storms over the weekend, one person was smiling from ear-to-ear: Mohawk Trail cross country ski coach Mark Pollard. After all, it’s impossible to have a cross country ski season...

On The Ridge with Joe Judd: Feeding wildlife doesn’t help

Wintertime in Massachusetts allows residents everywhere to begin their yearly ritual of feeding the birds. People love watching the many species of birds arriving at their feeders every winter. And in Shelburne, we especially love it when we see one...

High schools: Complete effort propels Greenfield boys past Mahar 71-43 (PHOTOS)

By THOMAS JOHNSTON

GREENFIELD — Following a slew of close games to open the season, the Greenfield boys basketball team put together a full 32 minute effort to pull away against Mahar on Tuesday. The Green Wave held a narrow 12-10 lead after eight minutes but turned it...

UMass basketball: Minutemen to host La Salle, Minutewomen on the road at Richmond

By GARRETT COTE

AMHERST — The effort and no-quit attitude that the UMass men’s basketball team showed against Dayton on Sunday was a promising sign for the Minutemen moving forward.UMass’ 64-60 loss on the road was the closest the Minutemen have come to beating the...

H.S. Roundup: Natalie Lanoue’s 14 points leads Mohawk Trail girls basketball past Athol

Natalie Lanoue scored 14 points and Bella Pettengill added 11 points, allowing the Mohawk Trail girls basketball team to pull away with a 50-35 Franklin County League South win over Athol in Athol on Monday. Rachel Pease finished with 10 points,...

High school hockey: Greenfield scores early but can’t hold lead in 3-1 loss to Amherst (PHOTOS)

By THOMAS JOHNSTON

GREENFIELD — Following a back-and-forth first period, the Amherst hockey team took command during the second period against Greenfield on Monday. Tied 1-1 after 15 minutes, the Hurricanes took the lead on a Skyler Ferro goal with 8:12 to go in the...

Bulletin board: JJ Bones helps Turners Falls Suburban basketball to weekend sweep

JJ Bones led all scorers with 22 points, including three 3-pointers, and was 10-for-15 from the free throw line to help Turners Falls get past Ludlow, 45-39, in a grades 5 and 6 Suburban League boys basketball game over the weekend in Turners...

Alpine ski preview: Mohawk Trail girls seeking third straight state championship

By THOMAS JOHNSTON

Can the Mohawk Trail girls alpine ski team bring a third straight MIAA state championship trophy to Buckland this winter?The Warriors took home the state title in 2021, the first girls title in program history, and followed it up with a second...

Boys basketball: With Pioneer’s Scott Thayer the newest 300-win member, digging deeper into all-time Franklin County coaching list

By JEFF LAJOIE

When Pioneer’s Scott Thayer reached the 300-win mark last week in the Panthers’ victory over Mount Greylock, he joined elite company among Recorder area boys basketball coaches.Thayer became just the fifth boys basketball coach in the area to topple...

UMass hockey: Minutemen looks to rebound against UConn after stumbling in Lake Placid

By THOMAS JOHNSTON

It wasn’t the trip to Lake Placid the Massachusetts hockey team was hoping for. Competing in the Adirondack Winter Invitational last week, the Minutemen went 0-1-1, falling to Cornell in a shootout (the game was officially scored as a tie) before...

UMass basketball: Bench steps up, Minutemen cruise past Duquesne 80-61 in Atlantic 10 opener

By GARRETT COTE

AMHERST — Almost nothing went the UMass men’s basketball team’s way in the first half of its Atlantic 10 season opener against Duquesne on Wednesday night.The Minutemen’s two leading scorers ended the half on the bench – as Josh Cohen picked up his...

High school hockey: Jake Jurek’s OT winner lifts Greenfield past Easthampton, 6-5 (PHOTOS)

By THOMAS JOHNSTON

Goals came early and often when the top two teams in the Wright Division got together at Lossone Rink on Wednesday.In the end, an overtime winner from Jake Jurek propelled Greenfield to a wild 6-5 victory over host Easthampton.Greenfield got out to a...

High school basketball: League title races shaping up across Franklin County and North Quabbin Region

By THOMAS JOHNSTON

As always seems to be the case with the winter sports season, it’s over before you know it. While the season began just a few weeks ago, most teams are around one-third of the way through their regular season slate. League title races are shaping up...

Boys basketball: Pioneer routs Mount Greylock, gives coach Scott Thayer career win No. 300 (PHOTOS)

By JEFF LAJOIE

NORTHFIELD — Another dominant win by the Pioneer boys basketball team was a milestone one for head coach Scott Thayer.The Panthers’ 72-25 victory over visiting Mount Greylock at Messer Gymnasium on Tuesday night was win No. 300 in Thayer’s coaching...

Boys basketball: Mahar outscores Athol 22-7 in fourth quarter to earn comeback victory 

By THOMAS JOHNSTON

ATHOL — Things weren’t looking good going into the fourth quarter for the Mahar boys basketball team against rival Athol on Tuesday. The Senators trailed an unbeaten Bears squad 42-32 going into the final eight minutes, but Mahar saved its best for...

Swimming: Turners Falls drops pair to Ludlow (PHOTOS)

Visiting Ludlow posted a pair of victories in the pool on Tuesday, earning a road sweep over Turners Falls High School.On the boys’ side, Ludlow snagged a 54-31 victory. Liam Bliss qualified for the state championship meet in the 100-yard backstroke...

Bulletin Board: Wright, Zilinski capture Sawmill River 10K titles on New Year’s Day

Over 100 athletes competed in the Sawmill River 10K Run on New Year’s Day in Montague Center, with Owen Wright crossing first as the male winner and Anna Zilinski the female winner. Wright, of Boulder, Colo., was the first runner across the finish...