The Greenfield boys basketball team was forced to turn the page quickly following its Western Mass. Class C championship-game loss to Drury on Saturday. 

The Green Wave had just one rest day to get ready for the MIAA Div. 5 state tournament, as No. 12 Greenfield hosted No. 53 St. Mary’s of Westfield in the preliminary round on Monday. 

If there was any worry for a hangover from the Green Wave, it didn’t take long to dispel those questions. Greenfield raced out to a 24-4 lead after eight minutes and led 49-8 at the half, cruising into the Round of 32 with an 83-27 victory at Nichols Gymnasium. 

The Green Wave (14-8) will host the winner of No. 21 Duggan and No. 44 Prospect Hill, which also played Monday night. 

Greenfield’s Jon Breor led the way with 17 points in the win, 13 coming in the first quarter. Caleb Murray scored 11 points, Jackson Campbell and Caleb Thomas both finished with nine points, Jerry Ven scored eight points while David Jung and Noah Murray each had seven points in the victory. 

Winthrop 68, Mahar 59 – The 33rd-seeded Senators led until late in the third quarter, when No. 32 Winthrop ripped off a 17-2 run and managed to keep the visitors at arm’s length en route to a 68-59 victory in the preliminary round of the MIAA Division 4 tourney on Monday in Winthrop.

Mahar (11-10) led 39-33 with 2 minutes, 42 seconds left in the third quarter after Lucas Isrow converted an and-one and sank the free throw. The Vikings (8-13) responded with a 17-2 run that carried into the fourth quarter and gave them a 50-41 lead they would not relinquish.

Hunter Martin paced the Sens with a team-high 18 points, while Isrow followed with 14 points and Gavin Sullivan tossed in nine points.

Mahar led 20-11 after one quarter, using a quick 14-4 run out of the gates when Connor Sluder hit a 3-pointer and converted a hook shot. Winthrop rallied to take a 26-25 halftime lead, sinking a floater in the lane at the halftime buzzer to jump ahead.

Winthrop will play at top-seeded Wareham in the Round of 32 on Thursday.

Hull 64, Athol 42 – After a shaky first quarter, the visiting Bears rallied within striking distance after halftime but couldn’t climb all the way back in a 64-42 loss in the MIAA Div. 5 preliminary round on Monday in Hull.

No. 37 Athol finished its season 12-9 overall.

“Not the ending we wanted,” Athol coach Brian Patria offered. “Credit Hull, they make their 3s. They pressed us, creating turnovers in the first [quarter] and [we] got down too early and just couldn’t get it back. We battled hard throughout.”

Athol trailed 21-8 after one quarter but got within 29-18 at halftime. Hull outscored the Bears 21-15 in the third and pulled away down the stretch.

“Mental toughness is important and on the road against an aggressive, stronger team I think it rattled us at times,” Patria said. “Very proud of my seniors and this team. We did a lot good things this season and will continue building.”

Angel Castillo poured in a team-high 20 points for Athol, while Aedan Erickson and Conall Tontodonato each tossed in seven points.

No. 28 Hull advanced to play at No. 5 Maynard in the Round of 32 on Friday.

Girls basketball

Renaissance 44, Turners 22 – It was a second half to forget for the Thunder. 

Taking on the No. 30 Phoenix in the preliminary round of the MIAA Div. 5 state tournament, No. 35 Turners found itself trailing just 17-13 at the half. Renaissance turned it on over the final 16 minutes though, outscoring the Thunder 27-9 after the break to advance to the Round of 32 with a 44-22 win in Springfield on Monday. 

Turners closed out its season with an 11-10 record. 

Taylor Greene finished with six points, Madi Liimatainen scored five points, Morgan Dobias tallied four points, Steph Peterson had three points while Abbi Holloway and Keira Richardson-Meatty both tossed in two points in the loss. 

Renaissance advances to play No. 3 Sutton in the Round of 32. 

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