ORANGE – For the 15th season in a row, the Mahar girls basketball team secured a spot in the playoffs after a 44-36 win over Frontier Regional on Monday night.
Mahar (10-6, 2-2 Franklin North) pulled away in the fourth quarter in a vibrant playoff atmosphere to clinch the Division III postseason berth.
Tori Tenney once again did a little of everything for Mahar, recording a triple-double with 10 points, 11 steals and 10 rebounds.
“Hopefully, with this momentum we can carry it forward,” Tenney said.
Tenney made two outside jumpers in the fourth quarter and got a steal, then an assist to a streaking Micalyn Mailloux to give Mahar a 41-34 lead late.
“Coach has been urging me to just go for it and not hesitate,” Tenney said.
The Senators defense did an effective job on Frontier’s top scoring options Olivia Deane and Amelia Sobieski.
Tenney guarded Deane and Jazmyn Vautour (10 rebounds) started out Sobieski in man-to-man defense to open the game.
Deane and Sobieski combined for 11 points.
There was some early penetration for the Red Hawks (8-8, 3-2), which prompted a switch to zone for Mahar. The execution of the defense made everything tough on the Red Hawks.
“Our man-to-man was pretty good but they made some nice moves to the hoop,” Mahar coach Larry Fisher said. “Then, we went into the zone. I thought the kids did well with it.”
Mahar has made the playoffs every season under Fisher.
“We got great kids and great parents and a good feeder program,” Fisher said. “I’ve had a good group every year.”
Mailloux smashed her left elbow on the court in the second quarter going for a steal but came right back into the game for the Senators.
Mailloux went 5-for-7 from the free throw line in the fourth quarter and finished with 13 points.
Delaney Parker was productive off the bench for Mahar, scoring nine points with two 3-pointers.
In the third quarter, the Red Hawks offense made some outside jumpers, but the shots didn’t fall in the fourth as the Senators pulled away.
Charlotte Doulette and Marie Diemand had eight points, with Ariana Walker adding seven for Frontier.
The Red Hawks are two wins away from a playoff berth with four games remaining.
Greenfield 80, Athol 32 – Haley Bigwood scored 21 points in a home loss for the Red Raiders.
Taylor Cleveland added seven points for Athol (3-12, 0-5), which trailed 49-9 at halftime.
Katie Haselton scored 25 points for the Green Wave (14-2, 5-0).
