ATHOL — Led by a blazing offensive start by Micalyn Mailloux and Abby Bonk, the Mahar girls basketball team beat Athol, 76-45, on Friday night.
Mailloux scored 11 of her 13 points in the first quarter and was visibly more exuberant than usual for the Senators.
“My shots in the last game weren’t going in,” Mailloux said. “Finally during warmups they were going and then eventually in the game.”
Bonk hit three 3-pointers in the first and finished with 11 points.
It was the 200th career win for Mahar coach Larry Fisher, who has coached the Senators for 14 seasons.
“You just take it year by year,” Fisher said. “I’ve been fortunate to have good kids and good athletes. They all have good heads on their shoulders. It’s nice but it’s all about the kids. They are the ones on the court.”
Mailloux, an emotional player, said Fisher helps when she gets down.
“If I am down he tells me to get my head in the game,” Mailloux said. “He’s helped me a lot. He tells me to not get down on myself.”
Fisher credited his assistant coach and junior varsity coach Anthony Paoletti, who has been coaching with him since the beginning.
Mahar’s defense swarmed Athol’s Haley Bigwood for most of the game. Bigwood fought through the defense for 29 tough points.
“She (Bigwood) is a hustler,” Fisher said. “She is all over the court.”
It wasn’t just Mailloux though for the Senators as there were contributions from the entire roster.
Delaney Parker (12 points) and Jazmyn Vautour (10 points) also scored in double-figures.
Sophia Apteker and Jordan Fournier added eight points each.
The Senators led 39-17 at halftime.
A good surge down the court by Parker led to a quick pass to Vautour, who scored to give Mahar its biggest lead 44-17 in the third quarter.
A Parker 3-pointer made it 49-21 and that’s when Mahar’s bench emptied for the remainder of the third quarter.
Taylor Cleveland had seven points for the Red Raiders.
Mary Prescott (seven points) had some solid minutes in the third quarter for Mahar.
