Smith Academy, Frontier tied atop Franklin

Staff reports

Kaitlyn Veit's career game on senior night pushed the Holyoke Catholic girls basketball one step closer to a league title.

Veit scored 30 points to lead the Gaels to a 68-42 victory over Sci-Tech at Chicopee Academy on Tuesday.

"We were pushing it all night long and she ran well and got good opportunities," Holyoke Catholic coach Terry Murphy said.

Veit scored five points in the first but had 12 in the second, 11 in the third and two in short minutes during the fourth. The senior shot 5-for-10 from 3-point range and was 12-of-21 from the floor. She had 12 rebounds and eight assists.

"She's been playing very well," Murphy said. "Statistically she had her best ever all-around game."

Caitlin Rooke had four points and seven rebounds for the Gaels, Melissa Laflamme added eight points and eight rebounds, Sarah Dingee had eight points and four assists and Meghan Connolly had five points and four assists.

Holyoke Catholic (9-8, 6-0 Bi-County West) holds a one-game lead on McCann Tech (10-7, 4-1), which beat Southwick Tuesday.

Aaliyah Hardy had 21 points for the Cybercats (2-14, 2-4).

Smith Academy 40, Athol 34 - The Falcons played tremendous man-to-man defense in the fourth quarter as they held on for the win on the road.

Smith led 33-32 entering the final quarter and held the Red Raiders to two points.

Abeni Davies had six points, 13 rebounds and 10 blocks to pace the Falcons (16-2, 15-1 Franklin South).

Allison Slysz had 13 points for Smith, and Steph Slysz added nine.

Smith remained in a first-place tie with Frontier Regional in the Franklin South.

Athol (9-8, 9-6 Franklin North) fell a half game behind with Mahar (10-7, 10-6) for first place in their league.

Frontier Regional 63, Turners Falls 21 - The Red Hawks took a 32-7 lead at halftime and coasted to an easy win on the road over the winless Indians (0-17, 0-16 Franklin North).

Kristin Calvo led the Red Hawks (16-2, 15-1 Franklin South) with 18 points, and Mel Stier added eight points.

Belchertown 43, Hampshire Regional 32 - Junior Britiany Browning scored seven of her career-high 12 points early in the third quarter to give the Orioles momentum en route to the win at home.

The two postseason-bound teams split their regular-season series and could meet again in the Western Massachusetts Division 2 Tournament.

Brianna DelValle added 10 points, nine rebounds and four assists for Belchertown (12-5, 5-2 Bi-County East), and Olivia Pare had 12 points and seven boards.

Ashlee Moussette paced Hampshire (12-6, 3-3) with 12 points.

Gateway Regional 41, Smith Vocational 13 - The Gators (14-1, 13-0 Tri-County) cruised in Northampton and clinched the league championship.

Becca Dastous led 10 different scorers for Gateway with nine points, Brooke Fairman added seven and Colleen Pease chipped in with six.

Megan Shain scored 11 points for the Vikings (3-10, 3-10).

Central 55, Northampton 41 - The Golden Eagles grabbed the lead late in the first half and pulled away in the second in Springfield.

Samantha Barnes led the Blue Devils (6-12, 1-9 Valley Wheel) with 12 points and 10 rebounds, and Lauren Weston added eight points and 10 boards.

South Hadley 43, Granby 32 - The Tigers (8-11, 2-5 Bi-County Central) outscored the Rams 21-5 in the fourth quarter to come from behind and win in Granby.

Casey O'Connor (15 points) and Janelle Seitz (16 points) combined to score 18 of South Hadley's 21 fourth-quarter points. O'Connor scored eight points inside, while Seitz had two of her four 3-pointers along with four free throws.

Alyssa Boardway had 13 points and Ashley Barnish added 10 for the Rams (3-15, 0-7).