Girls basketball: Defense propels Northampton past Minnechaug, into Class A final (PHOTOS)

By GARRETT COTE

NORTHAMPTON — The third quarter of Wednesday night’s Western Mass. Class A semifinal between No. 2 Northampton and No. 3 Minnechaug marked the most points the Blue Devils had surrendered in a frame in the sectional tournament. Northampton led by 10 at halftime, and a Bri Heafey triple boosted its advantage to 25-12. But the Blue Devils watched their once 13-point lead slip to six as a stretch of defensive lapses allowed the Falcons to go on a 10-3 run.

High schools: Top-seeded Pioneer boys handle Smith Academy in Class D semis (PHOTOS)

By THOMAS JOHNSTON

NORTHFIELD — After pulling out a 53-50 win in the opening round of the Western Mass. Class D Tournament against Monson on Monday, the Smith Academy boys basketball team ran into a buzzsaw in the semifinals. 

UMass basketball: Minutewomen rout Loyola-Chicago, Minutemen hammered by VCU

It was a dominant outing for the UMass women’s basketball team Wednesday.

Boys basketball: Top-seeded Granby handles Mahar 62-45 for spot in Class C title game (PHOTOS)

By GARRETT COTE

GRANBY — Prior to Tuesday’s tip off between the No. 1 Granby boys basketball team and No. 4 Mahar in the PVIAC Class C semifinals, Rams head coach Dylan Dubuc only had one thing on his mind — and if his team could execute it, he didn’t see an upset happening.

Youth hockey: Nonotuck Valley U12 Knights capture Ocean State President’s Classic title

The Easthampton-based Nonotuck Valley Hockey Association U-12 PeeWee hockey team participated in the Ocean State President’s Classic in Warwick, R.I., this past weekend from Feb. 15-17. The team celebrated President’s Day by bringing home the tournament championship after going undefeated – a perfect 4-0 – over the three-day span. 

High Schools: Cam Graves heats up down the stretch to lead Smith Academy boys into Class D semis following 53-50 win over Monson

It was quite the start to the postseason for the Smith Academy boys basketball team.

Girls basketball: Northampton senior Bri Heafey hits 1,000 points in Blue Devils’ tournament win over Westfield (PHOTOS)

By GARRETT COTE

NORTHAMPTON — Bri Heafey stepped to the foul line for three shots in the second quarter of the No. 2 Northampton girls basketball team’s PVIAC Class A quarterfinal matchup with No. 7 Westfield on Monday night. The Blue Devils senior needed to knock down a pair to give her 1,000 career points.

Indoor track: South Hadley's Abigail Gelinas, Maggie Crawford, Kelcey Zraunig and Emma Levreault win 4x200 meter relay title at MIAA Div. 5 Championships

The MIAA Division 5 Indoor Track & Field Championships took place Monday afternoon at the Reggie Lewis Center in Boston, after inclement weather postponed the initial meet that was scheduled for Sunday.

UMass basketball: George Mason holds off Minutewomen for 76-66 victory

On the road against one of the top teams in the Atlantic 10 Conference, the UMass women’s basketball team was right where it needed to be entering the fourth quarter of Sunday’s pivotal league contest.

UMass hockey: No. 1 Boston College rights the ship, splits weekend series after 4-1 win over Minutemen

By GARRETT COTE

AMHERST — Two themes continued to come up during UMass hockey head coach Greg Carvel’s postgame press conference following the Minutemen’s 4-1 loss to Boston College on Saturday night at Mullins Center: desperation and fatigue.

Wrestling: Hampshire’s Adin Clifford places 2nd at WMass D3 championship; Holyoke’s Steven Santiago wins D2 title

By THOMAS JOHNSTON

WILLIAMSTOWN — As a defending sectional champion, Hampshire Regional’s Adin Clifford knew everyone would be trying to knock him off on during Saturday’s Western Mass. Division 3 Wrestling Championship at Mount Greylock Regional School. 

Northampton’s Amalia Guerra, Belchertown’s Grace Perron capture titles at MIAA Division 2 Swimming & Diving Championships

By RYAN AMES

BOSTON – Belchertown’s Grace Perron and Northampton’s Amalia Guerra highlighted Hampshire County’s individual performances in the MIAA Division 2 Girls Swimming Championships at the Boston University Pool on Saturday afternoon.

UMass basketball: Shorthanded Minutemen fall to St. Bonaventure 73-59 for third loss in four games

By GARRETT COTE

AMHERST — According to UMass men’s basketball coach Frank Martin, not one player in his usual starting five – Jaylen Curry, Rahsool Diggins, Jayden Ndjigue, Daniel Rivera and Daniel Hankins-Sanford – suited up for practice on Friday, just 24 hours before the Minutemen were set to host St. Bonaventure at the Mullins Center.

UMass hockey: Michael Hrabal, Minutemen spring huge 3-2 road win at No. 1 Boston College

By RYAN AMES

CHESTNUT HILL – Hey fellas have you heard the news? The No. 16 UMass hockey team played the role of heartbreaker in its 3-2 win against No. 1 Boston College, Friday night at Conte Forum.

Indoor track: Amherst girls win 2 relay titles at MIAA Division 3 Championships (PHOTOS)

By GARRETT COTE

BOSTON — The Amherst girls were the No. 1 seed coming in, and they left no doubt in a dominant showing in the 4x200-meter relay at the MIAA Division 3 Indoor Track & Field Championships at the Reggie Lewis Track & Athletic Center.

High Schools: Granby girls basketball clips Smith Academy in PVIAC Class D quarterfinals, 57-47 (PHOTOS)

Kalli White poured in 16 of her game-high 21 points in the second half, lifting No. 4 Granby to a 57-47 win over fifth-seeded Smith Academy in the PVIAC Class D girls basketball quarterfinal round on Friday night in Granby.

High school wrestling: Hampshire County schools prep for sectional championships this weekend

By RYAN AMES

Three seniors will lead the Belchertown wrestling team into this weekend’s MIAA Division 3 Western Massachusetts Sectional Championships, as the Orioles’ first season back as a varsity program in nearly a decade nears a close.

UMass lacrosse: Minutewomen looking to go out on top in final Atlantic 10 season

By GARRETT COTE

AMHERST — A stretch of supremacy any longer than a handful of years, in any sport, is unheard of at the NCAA Division I level. It’s hard to win titles each season when a target is planted squarely on your back.

Boys basketball: Hartsbrook School downed by Four Rivers in River Valley Athletic League final (PHOTOS)

By GARRETT COTE

GREENFIELD — As the adage goes, the third time is the charm.

Hampshire County schools to compete at MIAA indoor track championships this weekend

By GARRETT COTE

BOSTON — Athletes and teams from across the Valley are set to compete in the MIAA Indoor Track and Field Championships at the Reggie Lewis Track and Athletic Center this weekend, starting with Amherst, Holyoke and Northampton competing in the Division 3 meet on Friday before Frontier, Hampshire and South Hadley participate in the Division 5 meet on Sunday.