GREENFIELD — The upstart Athol girls basketball team suffered its first loss of the season, 84-33, to Greenfield Tuesday.
Greenfield (3-0, 1-0 Franklin North), which is one of the best teams in the league, got out early on the Red Raiders (2-1, 0-1).
“They get it quick down the court,” Athol coach Kelly Kaczmarczyk said. “They are a very good team and something we need to strive toward.”
Samantha Smith scored 12 of her 18 points in the first quarter for Greenfield.
The Green Wave led 30-0 after the first quarter.
“I was impressed with how our team didn’t get down on ourselves,” Kaczmarczyk said. “In the fourth quarter we started working in the little things. That’s all you can do.”
The Red Raiders had a nice fourth quarter against Greenfield’s second unit. Athol outscored Greenfield 20-15 in the final frame.
One positive aspect from the game was the effort until the final horn with players like Haley Bigwood diving to the floor after loose balls in the fourth quarter.
“I think if you’re going to play a sport, put in all your effort,” Bigwood said. “Or don’t play at all. Give 100 percent.”
Bigwood led the Red Raiders with 11 points. Bigwood had a couple setups to Sophie Putnam in the paint.
“That’s why I call her my workhorse,” Kaczmarczyk said. “That’s why I keep her in all the time. I know she’s tired. Just that energy and enthusiasm and going after the ball no matter what the score is. It shows the younger players that that’s what you should be doing all the time.”
Putnam had 10 points, all in the fourth quarter. Jenna St. Cyr and Geca Baptista had three points each all from the free throw line.
St. Cyr and Baptista both went 3-for-4 from the line.
Katie Haselton, Olivia Joy and Kristina Reed each scored 12 points for Greenfield.
Frontier Regional 44, Mahar 40 — The Senators came back from down nine in the first half, but fell on the road to the Red Hawks.
Some missed foul shots did not help Mahar’s cause in an attempt take the lead. The Senators went 2-for-11 from the line.
Tori Tenney and Micalyn Mailloux both had 13 points for the Senators (1-3, 0-1 Franklin North).
Siobhan Davis had added five points.
