ATHOL — Three times in the fourth quarter the Athol boys junior varsity basketball team cut the Mahar lead down to one possession.
The Senators got a stop on the final possession, and had answers on offense in a 35-32 win over the Red Raiders, Wednesday.
Mahar led 27-24 when Ayden Santana scored on a multiple-effort play under the rim. Cole Johnson followed with a slick baseline finger roll layup to make it 31-24.
That’s when Athol’s Connor Mahony went on a personal 5-0 run for the Red Raiders to make it 31-29. Mahony hit a 3-pointer, and then got a steal and a layup.
Santana then made a nice pass to a cutting Charlie Anderson, who got fouled hard under the rim in the process of making the basket. Anderson’s free throw made it 34-29.
The Red Raiders had one final chance to tie with nine seconds left, but a Vincent Gordon 3-pointer missed.
Neither team could find a rhythm offensively in the first half, as the score was 19-13 at the break
The strong play of Santana in the paint carried the Senators in the first half. Santana finished with 13 points and 15 rebounds.
Mahony led Athol with 10 points with Gordon adding eight.
A pass out of the high post from Luke Melanson to Elias Spencer (eight points) for a 3-pointer gave the Senators their biggest lead of the game in the third quarter at 23-13.
The Red Raiders cut into the lead before the end of the third when Mahony hit a 3-pointer for Athol to make 25-19.
Going into the fourth quarter the Senators led 27-19.
Mahar 68, Athol 56 (2OT) — After regulation and an overtime could not decide the game, the Senators pulled away in the second overtime for the road win over the Red Raiders on Tuesday.
Mahar held Athol without a basket in the second overtime.
Gavin Sullivan poured in 32 points for the Senators.
Connor Sluder had a double-double with 19 points and 26 rebounds for Mahar. Helping out on the glass was Kaleb Lemcke with 13 rebounds.
Angel Castillo and Conall Tontodonato led the Red Raiders with 14 points each.
Aedan Erickson had 10 for Athol.
