TURNERS FALLS — The Turners Falls defense stepped up when it needed to most on Tuesday.
For three quarters, Stella Clark kept visiting Mohawk Trail alive with her post scoring. Clark had 21 of the Warriors’ 32 points heading into the fourth quarter, but the Thunder locked down over the final eight minutes.
Turners made passes into the post tougher, and by doing so kept Clark off the scoreboard in the fourth quarter. The Warriors were held to just five points in the final stanza as the Thunder pulled away with a 51-37 Franklin League South victory.
“We defended the entry pass and did a better job of that in the second half,” Turners coach Jim Cadran said. “We got up in the face of the person making the pass and made them throw a lob. Then we could pick it off.”
It was a balanced scoring attack by the Thunder (2-3), who were missing players on Tuesday. Emily Young led the way with 15 points while Madi Liimatainen added nine points. Taylor Greene and Abbi Holloway each had eight points in the win.
“We were shorthanded,” Cadran said. “Every team has these issues. We’re hoping to get some bodies back for Friday. Both teams were gassed. It was a great game played by both teams.”
Turners raced out to a 6-2 lead early behind three straight baskets by Liimatainen. Mohawk Trail (2-3) responded with seven points from Mya Lesieur and six points from Clark to pull ahead 13-12, but the Thunder closed out the quarter on a 6-0 run behind a pair of baskets by Young and a score inside by Liimatainen to take an 18-13 lead after eight minutes.
It was the Thunder press that forced multiple turnovers, leading to easy buckets in transition in the first quarter. That continued into the second frame. Turners used its press, turned over the Warriors and converted to get out to a 23-15 early in the second quarter.
Once Mohawk Trail solved the press, Clark proved to be a problem inside. She scored all 11 Warriors points in the second, using her height to convert five shots inside. That burst kept Mohawk Trail within striking distance, though the Thunder held a 30-24 lead at the break.
“We played with great energy in the first half,” Warriors coach Kate Grover said. “I didn’t think we responded as well in the second half. We needed to keep that level we played at in the first half going throughout the entire game.”
Clark once again was a force inside in the third quarter, scoring two baskets to cut the Turners advantage to 32-28.
Steph Peterson then scored off an offensive rebound for the Thunder and Greene got to the rim for two to put Turners up, 36-28. The hosts eventually took a 38-32 lead into the fourth quarter.
“The ball movement has been very good,” Cadran said. “We’re finding the open person. We rebounded the ball well tonight.”
The Thunder opened the fourth on a 5-0 run behind a basket inside by Holloway, a free throw by Young and a made shot by Young.
Octavia Crawford put the Warriors on the board with 3:30 left on a corner jumper before Peterson scored inside to put Turners ahead, 45-34.
Holly Myers, Holloway and Young closed out the game with baskets to seal the win for the Thunder.
Easthampton 48, Pioneer 23 — Lauren Morse gave the Panthers trouble all night, scoring 22 points as the Eagles earned a 48-23 independent victory over Pioneer on Tuesday in Northfield.
Hailey Ring led the Panthers (1-4) with seven points. Caroline Ring added six points and Sofia Walker scored five points in the loss.
Pope Francis 64, Mahar 44 — Saylor Kegans went off for 26 points and 15 rebounds for the Senators in a 64-44 independent loss to the Cardinals on Tuesday.
Kendra Doane had a double-double with 10 points and 11 rebounds while Natalie Belloli and Sophia Woods each had three points in the loss for the Senators (2-5).
Isabella Meadows led Pope Francis with 26 points in the win.
Frontier 44, Palmer 42 — In a battle for first place in the Franklin League North, the Redhawks went ahead 35-27 after three quarters and held on late to come away with a 44-42 win over the Panthers at Goodnow Gymnasium on Tuesday.
Kylie Laford led the way for Frontier (4-1) with 15 points, knocking down three 3’s, while Kaitlyn Mackin scored 13 points and Hannah Mackin added six points in the victory.
Athol 66, Narragansett 32 — The visiting Bears outscored ‘Gansett by a 37-12 margin in the second half to pull away for an impressive independent win Tuesday night.
Athol (2-3) rebounded after a tough overtime loss to Frontier on Monday.
“They responded well to the last two games being so close and losing,” Athol coach Brian Patria said. “Really says a lo t about our team’s character and resilience.”
Conall Tontodonato paced the offense with 16 points, including nine in the first quar ter. Vinny Gordon tossed in 11 points in the win while Beau Manning went for 12 points, eight during the second-half spurt. Angel Castillo added 10 points, including a pair of 3-pointers, while Dilan Fountain (seven points) and Connor Mahony (five) also chipped in offensively.
In JV action the Bears came away with a 57-27 win over Narragansett behind 16 points by Ben Kearney.