Sofia Walker came through in the clutch for the Pioneer girls basketball team on Friday.
The Panthers were tied with Smith Academy at 30 with 34 seconds left when Walker drained a 3, which proved to be the game-winner as Pioneer walked away with a 33-30 Franklin County League South win in Northfield.
“Big win,” Panther coach Mike Churchill said. “It was one we needed. We’ve lost a couple like this so nice to pull one out. Sofia’s shot was huge.”
Walker finished with nine points in the win. Hailey Ring led Pioneer with 10 points with Addison Harrington scoring six points. Laura Kahler played fantastic defense game to keep the Panthers in the game.
Putnam 45, Athol 21 — The Bears scored 10 points in the first quarter but managed just 11 the rest of the way, falling to the Beavers in Springfield on Friday in Franklin County League South action.
Emma Bacigalupo finished with 12 points in the loss. Reily Polana had five points while Lizzy Mailloux and Abby Lutz each had two points for Athol.
Franklin Tech 45, Mohawk Trail 31 — The Eagles still had some legs left after playing its fourth game in four days, earning a Franklin County League South win over the Warriors in Turners on Friday.
Kaitlin Trudeau paced Tech with 12 points. Kendra Campbell added 11 points, Hannah Gilbert tallied seven points and Lea Chapman scored six points and pulled down 17 rebounds — 12 on the offensive end — in the win.
Stella Clark led Mohawk Trail with 12 points. Mya Lesieur scored nine points and Octavia Crawford had five points in the loss.
Turners 46, Mahar 28 — Leading 21-17 at the half the Thunder went off for 13 points in the second half to take a 34-23 lead into the fourth, paving the way for an independent victory in Turners on Friday.
Emily Young recorded 16 points for Turners, with Madi Liimatainen adding 13 points, Morgan Dobias scoring eight points and Lily Spera finishing with seven points in the win.
Saylor Kegans had eight points for Mahar. Kendra Doane added seven points and Nevaeh Scribner scored six points in the loss.
• The Greenfield Middle School girls basketball team defeated Mahar 32-10 on Friday behind 22 points from Tayler Bergeron.
Athol 44, Smith Academy 39 — Tied 31-31 after three quarters the Bears held the Falcons to a mere eight fourth quarter points to pull out a Hampshire Leauge North win in Athol on Friday.
“It was a nice bounce back from last night,” Athol coach Brian Patria said. “We took care of the basketball with limited turnovers and executed well on offense. Good team effort. It was nice to be on this end with a W. They really deserved it.”
Vinny Gordon led the way with 15 points in the victory, with Beau Manning adding 12 points. Connor Mahony ran the point and scored nine points and Jet Castillo set the tempo and created turnovers on defense to help the Bears pull out the win.
Lee 53, Turners 34 — Levin Prondecki scored 14 points in the Thunders road loss to the Wildcats on Friday.
Alex Quesada had nine points while Branden Truesdell added five points in the loss.
