Girls Basketball

Falcons bounce back to play at Cage

Photo: Falcons bounce back from one win to 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.

Perfect Hurricanes at a loss

Photo: 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.

Heart-breaking loss in OT for Falcons

Photo: 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.

Their final moment as Amherst teammates

Photo: Their final moment as 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.

Shooting woes doom Hurricanes

Photo: Shooting woes doom Hurricanes

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.

Lee escapes near-upset by Falcons

Photo: Lee escapes near-upset by 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.

Amherst, Smith Academy girls seek titles

Mariah Lesure has lived her entire life in Amherst.

But it wasn't until last year that the Amherst Regional junior center, who will turn 17 next month, truly grasped the meaning of getting to the Curry Hicks Cage.

'A dream come true' for Amherst seniors

Photo: #A dream come true' for seniors

SPRINGFIELD - Seniors Alyssa Leonard and Jenna Klaes vaguely remember attending Amherst Regional girls basketball games as 8th graders.

The Hurricanes, who went 1-19 that year, didn't leave much of an impression on the youngsters. But since reaching high school Klaes and Leonard have certainly left their impression on Amherst.

Smith Academy girls win thriller at buzzer

AMHERST - Lindsay Gondek had always dreamed about making a game-winning 3-pointer.

On Tuesday night, the Smith Academy senior guard had to settle for a game-winning layup.

With 8.6 seconds remaining in a tied game, Alyssa Klepacki grabbed a defensive rebound and quickly found Gondek on the right sideline. Gondek raced down the court and beat the defense to the basket.

Spartans knock out Belchertown

AMHERST - Brianna Del Valle soared through the air, drew a foul and made the fast-break layup.

As she fell to the ground, all the momentum had swung to the Belchertown girls basketball team late in the third quarter of Tuesday's Western Massachusetts Division 2 Tournament semifinal at Curry Hicks Cage.

When she didn't get up, it all went away.

Perfect Amherst girls again await Pittsfield

Photo: Perfect Amherst girls again await Pittsfield

Undefeated Amherst Regional rolled through the regular season, entered the Western Massachusetts Division 1 Tournament at 20-0 and then lost in its first postseason game to underdog Pittsfield.

No, this isn't a prediction for the girls basketball team's semifinal matchup against the Generals at American International College on Wednesday night.

Young Hopkins bows to Ware, King

HADLEY - In the first eight minutes of Thursday night's game, Hopkins Academy's young players looked like seasoned veterans.

The fourth-seeded Golden Hawks controlled the tempo of the game, held an eight-point lead after the first quarter and looked like the better team. That was until Ware's Justine King took over.

Orioles return to semis

Photo: Orioles return to semis

SOUTH DEERFIELD - The Belchertown girls basketball team's mantra for this season actually began last year.

After knocking off Commerce in the 2009 quarterfinals of the Western Massachusetts Division 2 Tournament, the Orioles all sang together on the ride home, celebrating their upcoming trip to the Curry Hicks Cage for the semifinals.

Raiders' upset bid falls short

PALMER - Hampshire Regional girls basketball coach Desi Vega said his team came into its western Massachusetts Division 2 quarterfinal against unbeaten Palmer with nothing to lose.

With just a few minutes remaining, the Red Raiders were in position to "shock the Pioneer Valley." as Vega told his players before the game.

Gaels ousted by top seed

LEE - The Lee girls basketball team has two standards - balanced scoring and a trademark full-court press defense.

Thursday night, the top-seeded Wildcats used both to beat No. 9 Holyoke Catholic 65-32 in a Western Massachusetts Division 3 quarterfinal game.

Del Valle heats up for Orioles

BELCHERTOWN - The basket kept getting smaller and further away for Brianna Del Valle. It was a good thing the senior forward had halftime to regroup.

Del Valle struggled in the first half but broke open in the second to lead the Belchertown girls basketball team to a 51-35 first-round victory over Mount Greylock in the Western Massachusetts Division 2 Tournament.

Raiders get top seed next

WESTHAMPTON - After picking up two fouls 2 minutes, 36 seconds into the game, Hampshire Regional freshman forward Sarah Kober was forced to the bench to watch most of the first half Monday night.

Gaels survive off night at Gateway

Photo: Gaels survive off night

HUNTINGTON - Good shooters have off nights.

The Holyoke Catholic girls basketball team was just happy to survive Monday when its top two scorers both had miserable nights on the offensive end.

Hopkins cruises past Dean in first round

hadley - Hopkins Academy dominated on both ends of the floor, took a 22-point lead at halftime and extended it to a 30-point victory Monday night in the first round of the Western Massachusetts Division 3 Tournament.

A stingy defense and a well-balanced scoring attack gave No. 4 Hopkins the 64-34 win over No. 13 Dean Tech.

Girls basketball tournament capsules

Photo: Girls basketball tournament capsules

DIVISION 1 Amherst Regional

Record: 20-0, 10-0 Suburban

Last tournament appearance: Lost to Minnechaug 58-43 in 2009 western Mass. Division 1 quarterfinals

Leaders: Alyssa Leonard (14.3 points per game), Mariah Lesure (11.1), Jenna Klaes (9.2), Brianna Leonard (7), Nicole DeMarchena (5.5)