AMHERST — It was a tough opener for the Mahar girls basketball team against the defending Western Massachusetts Division 3 champion on Friday night.
The Senators, plagued by turnovers, lost 67-40 to Hampshire Regional in the Pioneer Valley Tip-Off at UMass’ Curry Hicks Cage.
“You can’t pull a lot of positives out of this,” Mahar coach Larry Fisher said. “We left a lot of trash on the court. We didn’t handle the ball confidently.”
Mahar started the game well and when it broke Hampshire’s swarming press it led to easy baskets and an early lead.
“I think in the first quarter we played well, but we didn’t match there intensity,” Fisher said.
As the game went on ball security failed, leading to over 40 turnovers for the Senators. A lot of Mahar’s mistakes were a result of Hampshire’s trapping press, but some were unforced.
“Turnovers were crazy,” Fisher said. “Absolutely crazy. We are a better team than what we showed there. They might be the Western Mass. champs but we should give them a better go than that.”
Micalyn Mailloux led Mahar with 10 points. When the Senators broke Hampshire’s press Mailloux was out in the open court for Mahar.
Sophia Apteker played some good early minutes for Mahar and finished with seven points.
“If there was a bright spot it might have been on a couple players,” Fisher said. “But I am not very happy right now; the senior leadership was terrible.”
Mahar led after the first quarter, 13-11, but Hampshire went on a run in the second quarter. A big second quarter from the Raiders gave them a 37-26 lead at halftime.
Lila Labrie scored eight of her 15 points in the second quarter for Hampshire (1-0). Maddie Pond scored nine points in the quarter and finished the game with 16 points.
“They (Hampshire) were playing with confidence and playing with poise,” Fisher said. “We definitely weren’t.”
Hampshire went 20-for-28 from the line, while the Senators only went to the line 12 times.
Abby Bonk and Mary Prescott had five points for the Senators. Delaney Parker had four points with a 3-pointer.
Seniors Tori Tenney and Jazmyn Vautour combined for two points.
North Brookfield 55, Athol 52 — Mark Ferrari scored 22 points for the Red Raiders in a road loss to start the season.
Athol had a chance to get closer with free throws late in the fourth quarter, but missed and was then forced to foul.
Bryce King scored six points with three assists and two steals for Athol (0-1).
Noah Pottinger had 12 points with three 3-pointers for the Red Raiders.
Athol 36, North Brookfield 28 — Dilan Fountain (eight points) and Connor Mahony (seven points) led the Red Raiders in a road win to start the season.
