Purple Knights lose in state title game

SPRINGFIELD - Derek Pinciak barely had both skates off the ice when he tore the state Division 3A finalist medal from his neck.

The senior captain of the Holyoke hockey team could not contain his disappointment after Thursday's 4-2 loss to Oakmont at the MassMutual Center.

Holyoke seniors cherish the ride

SPRINGFIELD - Most of the seniors on the Holyoke hockey team played against each other growing up.

When they reached high school and joined the Purple Knights, the team came together. The results during the last two seasons speak for themselves.

Through the seven seniors' first 52 games, Holyoke went 23-23-6. Over its last 35, the team went 31-2-2.

Familiar foe for defending champ Holyoke

The second year of the state Division 3A hockey tournament comes down to the same teams as the first year.

Defending champion Holyoke (21-1-1) squares off against Oakmont of Ashburnham (20-1-2) at the MassMutual Center in Springfield at 6 tonight.

Perfect Hurricanes at a loss

AMHERST - A dream season for the Amherst Regional girls basketball team ended with a nightmare shooting performance.

After 21 straight wins, the Hurricanes suffered their worst offensive night, and their first loss, of the season 45-39 to East Longmeadow in the Western Massachusetts Division 1 Tournament championship game on Saturday at Curry Hicks Cage.

Their final moment as Amherst teammates

AMHERST - When tournament director Lou Conte called the Amherst Regional seniors to midcourt to accept the Western Massachusetts Division 1 Tournament runner-up trophy, it was only fitting that the duo already was wrapped in a tight hug, trying to overcome the realization that their nine years as teammates had ended.

Heart-breaking loss in OT for Falcons

AMHERST - The Smith Academy girls basketball team was 1.3 seconds and one rebound away from one of the biggest upsets in championship Saturday history.

Instead, perennial superpower Lee got the rebound and the game-tying basket as regulation ended, and went on to earn a 60-56 overtime victory in the Western Massachusetts Division 3 Tournament title game at the Curry Hicks Cage.

Falcons bounce back to play at Cage

AMHERST - Lindsay Gondek could hardly believe her ears at the first practice of the 2008-09 season.

First-year coach Ted Wilcox had taken over the Smith Academy girls basketball program that year and the Falcons were coming off a 1-19 season.