ORANGE — The Mahar girls basketball team inched closer to a playoff berth following a 61-50 win over McCann Tech on Friday night.
The Senators (8-4) need just two more victories to secure a Western Massachusetts Division 3 playoff spot.
“We are starting to play our best basketball,” Mahar coach Larry Fisher said. “It’s the right time.”
Mahar got another big game from Jazmyn Vautour who had 13 points, 17 rebounds and seven assists.
Courtney Page got a start for Tori Tenney, who missed the game with an illness.
Page responded with a season-high 10 points for Mahar.
Tenney is expected to return Saturday when the Senators travel to play Lee High School.
The game is at Hoosac Valley High School and part of the Coaches vs. Cancer event.
Jordan Fournier came off the bench and scored seven points.
“The contributions from the bench are huge,” Fisher said.
Mahar actually faced a deficit in the first quarter, but a swarming press started to create turnovers and it led to a big run for Mahar.
The Senators outscored McCann Tech 39-13 in the second and third quarters, putting the game out of reach.
Micalyn Mailloux, dealing with foul trouble, had nine points for Mahar ending a season-long streak of double-digit performances.
Delaney Parker added eight points for Mahar
Belchertown 62, Athol 41 — Mark Ferrari scored 20 points in a road loss for the Red Raiders (2-11).
Keegan Lutz and Jaycob Lamarche added six points each for Athol, which was down 36-15 at halftime.
Lutz hit two 3-pointers for the Red Raiders while Ferrari went 9-for-11 from the line.
Mahar 56, Mohawk 30 — Jordan Desrosiers’ 13 points helped the Senators get a road win in Buckland.
The win also secured a Western Massachusetts Division 3 playoff berth.
“We are getting better,” Mahar coach Chad Softic said. “We had some roadblocks but I am proud that we stuck together.”
Mahar (10-4) started strong with a 19-point first quarter where Charlie Barnes scored six of his eight points.
Deven Patch added 11 points and seven rebounds for Mahar.
Zack Notre came off the bench and contributed eight points and eight rebound with some of Mahar’s bigs in foul trouble.
