Garrett Willard’s third 20-point game of the season wasn’t enough as Smith Academy boys basketball fell at home 62-50 to visiting Palmer.

An 18-8 second quarter in favor of the Panthers was the difference on Wednesday night, as it helped Palmer enter the second half with a 13-point lead. The Falcons out-scored the Panthers 15-9 in the fourth quarter, but it wasn’t enough to earn the comeback win.

Cameron Graves joined Willard in double figures, scoring a new season high of 14 points. Connor Kowalski added five points while Ryan McCoy and Harry LaFlamme each chipped in four apiece in the loss.

Smith Academy (6-6) was eyeing its third consecutive win heading into Wednesday, but Palmer had other plans. The Falcons return to the hardwood on Friday as they hit the road against Turners Falls at 7 p.m.

Pioneer 72, Hopkins 45 — James Fitzgibbons had a big night for the Golden Hawks, scoring 26 points in a loss to the Panthers in Northfield on Wednesday. 

Chase Earle tallied nine points while Owen Earle finished with four points for Hopkins. 

Pioneer led 42-20 at the half. 

Girls basketball

Westfield 40, Amherst 20 — Zola Higham scored a team-high nine points while Shannon Klaes added seven in the Hurricanes’ loss to the Bombers.

Amherst struggled defending Westfield’s Alexus Sanchez, who put up a game-high 15 points.

Preps

Girls basketball

Westminster 47, Williston 31 — Meghan Carey scored 10 and Morgan Dulude added a 12-point, 10-rebound double-double in the loss.

Boys basketball

Williston 55, Taft 54 — The Wildcats earned a gritty overtime win over Taft behind a stellar performance from Preston Edmead.

Edmead dropped 29 points to lead Williston in the OT thriller.

Boys swimming and diving

Williston 86, Westminster 70 — Herrick Stevenson won both the 200 and 100 freestyles, Cole Cavanagh swept the diving competitions and Beckett Collins won the butterfly to lead the Wildcats.

Girls swimming and diving

Williston 95, Westminster 75 — Andie Kinstle won the individual medley and breast stroke, Audrey Dowsett earned a victory in the 100 freestyle, Francesca Gionfriddo earned a win in diving and Hayden Hedstrom won the 50 freestyle.

Girls squash

Miss Porters 8, Williston 0 — The matches were fought hard and everyone stepped up, but the Wildcats were swept on the road. Zoe Zhang had an especially close match with all of her games having only a two-point differential.

Mt. Institute Ski

Deerfield’s Cecelia Cramer was the winner on Wednesday with a time of 47.20 seconds. Josephine Cramer (seventh, 49.19) and Jing Wang (ninth, 50.34) joined her in the top 10 for the Big Green. 

Late Tuesday results

Boys swimming

Belchertown 120, Agawam 36 — Luke Giguere cruised to first in the 50 freestyle (22.87) and 100 back stroke (0:54.51) to lead the Orioles.

Drake Dragon (2:02.22 in 200 freestyle), Ryan Shea (2:19.53 in 200 individual medley), Caleb Perone (0:58.88 in 100 butterfly), Derek Gould (0:55.62 in 100 freestyle) and JR Zlogar (1:10.58) were the other individual winners on Tuesday.

West Springfield 143, Amherst 34 — The ‘Canes fell to 4-5 on Tuesday afternoon.

Girls swimming

Agawam 97, Belchertown 59 — Cheri Willems (28.25) finished first in the 50 freestyle and Aubrey Harrington (1:09.37) touched the wall first in the 100 butterfly for the Orioles.

Amherst 104, West Springfield 69 — The ‘Canes improved to 8-2 on Tuesday afternoon.