TURNERS FALLS — The Frontier girls basketball team lost its first game of the Franklin Tech Summer Basketball League, but since then, it has looked very much like the team that made a run in the MIAA Div. 4 tournament a season ago.
The Redhawks faced off with unbeaten Franklin Tech on Tuesday and pulled ahead 23-13 at the half.
Behind strong defense, Frontier rode that lead to the finish, earning a 40-23 victory in the final game of the night.
“It’s going really well so far this summer,” Redhawk Kylie Laford said. “We lost our first game to Pioneer but it was our first game of the summer ball season. Ever since we’ve pushed ourselves and won every game since. We’re gradually getting better each game. We’re working hard in this heat.”
Frontier is using the summer to improve on the defensive end of the court.
From doing drills to working on rebounding to switching up different defenses, it’s been a productive summer for the Redhawks.
“We’re working on boxing out,” Laford said. “We’ve done a lot of drills like that. We’re working on off ball movement, screens and both of our defenses. We’re really working on our 1-3-1 defense. That’s our strong suit and making that even better is going to make us a better team all together.”
Like most gyms in the middle of July, the heat was a factor for both teams on Tuesday. Laford is hoping that the summer league will get her team in shape for the upcoming season.
“With the heat, it’s getting us in shape for the season,” Laford said. “Even though the season isn’t until the winter it’s helping us get ready.”
Claire Kirkendall led Frontier with nine points in the win. Delaney Fifield and Madison McKemmie each tallied six points, Olivia Machon and Molly Gates had five points while Laford sank a three in the win.
Lea Chapman put in six points for Franklin Tech. Hannah Gilbert scored five points, Haleigh Benoit scored four points and Kendra Campbell and Kaitlin Trudeau each scored three points in the loss.
The second game on Tuesday saw Greenfield take a 29-16 lead into the half against Pioneer before putting up 20 second-half points to pull away with a 49-32 victory over the Panthers.
Getting to play against local competition is something Green Wave point guard Azemina Cecunjanin enjoys about the Franklin Tech Summer League.
“It’s very fun,” Cecunjanin said. “It’s cool to see how people have improved and how teams have gotten better. It’s good competition.”
It was the fast break game that got the job done for Greenfield, which was able to run in transition and get easy buckets in the paint.
Moving the ball and playing as a team is something the Green Wave are working on during the offseason.
“We’re working on our communication,” Cecunjanin said. “We’re working on moving the ball and getting the ball in the paint.”
The hard work during the offseason is showing throughout the summer, and Greenfield players said they’re liking how it’s gone thus far.
“We’ve definitely taken some steps forward this summer,” Cecunjanin said. “We’ve gotten more wide open layups, we’re getting more rebounds and we’re not afraid to drive and get to the foul line.”
Amber Bergeron led the Green Wave with 17 points. Cecunjanin tossed in 16 points, Lillia Kachelmeyer scored eight points and Elderina Cecunjanin tallied six points in the victory.
Hailey Ring poured in 14 points, Addison Harrington scored six points while Fota Ndiaye, Sofia Walker and Caroline Ring each had four points for Pioneer.
The opening game of the night saw Mahar play suffocating defense to come away with a 36-6 win over Smith Academy.
The Falcons did not score in the first half.
Kendrah Doane led the way with 11 points for the Senators. Nevaeh Scribner scored eight points, Hayden Comeau had six points, Sophia Woods put in four points and Taylor Paluk scored three points in the win.
Cori Scagel, Pipeer Higuera and Avonna Wickles each had two points for Smith Academy.