The Pioneer Valley Interscholastic Athletic Conference championships may still be a few days away, but one local skier is already off and running at a fast clip.
Westfield’s Grace O’Connor won for the second straight time, finishing first on the slalom in Thursday’s PVIAC race at Berskhire East.
O’Connor (35.77) edged out Agawam’s Jillian Scherpa (35.88), Minnechaug’s Mary Clare Crochier (35.96), and fellow Bomber, Rebecca Stephens (4th overall, 36.58). Gateway’s Hannah Green placed 21st (43.75).
Westfield placed third as a team (165.34), behind Longmeadow (160.85) and Minnechaug (164.03). The Bombers secured the same spot in the overall season standings, just ahead of Gateway.
SAINTS FINISH #1: Three local racers – St. Mary’s Matt Masciadrelli (3rd, 25.04), Gateway’s Austin Herman (4th, 25.08), and Westfield’s Neil Sheehan (5th, 25.24) – cracked the top five in the final race of the regular season Thursday night at Berkshire East.
St. Mary’s won the team portion of the competition with a combined time of 107.58, just eclipsing Gateway (109.73). With the victory, the Saints claimed the South Division title. The Gators were runners-up.
GIRLS’ HOOPS
Tigers win thriller
Westfield Voc-Tech 17, Dean Tech 15
Katie Nesmelova scored seven points to lead Westfield Voc-Tech to a thrilling last-second victory.
Rams double up McCann
Southwick 45, McCann Tech 22
Southwick put together a very balanced scoring attack, playing tough defense and scoring several baskets in transition.
Easton tallies 18
Commerce 50, St. Mary’s 20
Alissa Easton scored 18 of her team’s 20 points for St. Mary’s. Commerce’s Breanna Marchena (17 points), Jayzabel Torres (14), and Geriliz Hernandez (10) notched double-digits scoring.
Gateway’s Pete Kowal, center, leaps for the net during Thursday night’s game against Holyoke Catholic. (Photo by Frederick Gore)
BOYS’ HOOPS
Haskell nets 22
Holyoke Catholic 54, Gateway 48
Johnny Haskell (22 points) and Peter Kowal (16) led Gateway, which had a chance to tie late fall by the wayside.
JV GIRLS’ HOOPS
Southwick 33, McCann Tech 20
Allyssa Cournoyer scored 12 points to lead Southwick. McCann Tech’s Patricia Fletcher finished with a game-high 16.
