WARREN — After leading for almost the entire game, the Mahar girls basketball team saw itself down by a point in the fourth quarter against Quaboag on Monday night.
Unfazed, the Senators put together a series of clutch offensive plays to beat the Cougars, 37-36.
First there was a soft jumper from just inside the free-throw line by Abby Bonk.
Then Micalyn Mailloux took over on the next two possessions with aggressive takes to the rim.
“I was doing bad,” Mailloux said. “I had to show coach that I could improve. I just tried to take it in to draw a foul and it ended up happening.”
On the first take from the left wing, Mailloux caught a crosscourt pass from Bonk and fought through contact for a basket plus a foul.
On the next possession, Mailloux (13 points) finished in similar fashion.
Delaney Parker and Jazmyn Vautour both went 1-for-2 at the line to give the Senators a four-point lead.
Vautour missed her first opportunity with 36 seconds left.
“Just have to relax and take it slow,” Vautour said. “I just had to make the second one.”
Those free throws made the score 37-33.
The Cougars’ Kiarra Dorman, who caught fire in the fourth quarter with 13 of her 19 points, launched and made a 3-pointer to give Quaboag a chance to foul.
Parker then missed a pair at the line and the Cougars got a desperate heave for a chance to win, but the shot missed.
After the turnover-ridden season opener against Hampshire Regional, the Senators (1-1) fought through some adversity against the Cougars.
A nine-point lead dissipated in the second quarter for Mahar.
“We kept our heads up,” Mailloux said. “In the Hampshire game we were making bad passes and then we made even more. We worked as a team more and slowed things down tonight.”
Mahar’s ball movement was crisp and turnovers were limited.
The Senators jumped out to an early 15-6 lead, but the Cougars went on a 13-0 run to close the gap before halftime.
Things settled down in the third quarter for Mahar.
“We played good defense,” Mahar coach Larry Fisher said. “We ran into a spot in the third quarter where we were getting good shots and there was a cover on the rim. The shot selection was better in the second half. They kept their heads up.”
Tori Tenney didn’t do much scoring for Mahar with four points, but her defense and relentless work on the offensive glass gave the Senators much needed extra possessions in the second half.
A steal and a finish by Tenney ended Quaboag’s scoring run in the third quarter.
Bonk finished the game with seven points and a 3-pointer. Vautour had six points and a 3-pointer.
