Sports

UMass hockey notebook: Young Minutemen defensemen growing quickly

There’s a belief in the hockey community that young defensemen take longer to develop compared to young forwards.

UMass hockey: Minutemen prepare to host Alaska for two-game set

By RYAN AMES

For the first time ever, the UMass hockey team will host Alaska for a two-game set, beginning Friday at the Mullins Center.

UMass men’s basketball: Minutemen extend win streak to three following 74-61 triumph over George Washington

By GARRETT COTE

AMHERST — For the early portion of the first half, anxious murmurs spread through the Mullins Center as the UMass men’s basketball team racked up as many turnovers (6) as points nearly 10 minutes into the game. The 2,772 fans that showed up were wondering if the Minutemen would too. But as he did on Sunday against La Salle, Minutemen sophomore Jaylen Curry changed the trajectory of Wednesday night’s contest with George Washington.

High Schools: Granby wrestling falls to Athol, 64-16 (PHOTOS)

It was always going to be a challenge for the Granby wrestling team against Athol on Wednesday. 

UMass women’s basketball: URI scores layup in final seconds to defeat Minutewomen, 60-58

The UMass women’s basketball team lost in heartbreaking fashion to Rhode Island on a last-second layup, falling 60-58, on Wednesday at the Ryan Center.

High school basketball notebook: South Hadley girls basketball continues winning ways

By GARRETT COTE

It’s that time of the week again, as Wednesday evening means Hampshire County high school basketball notebook No. 3 is here. February is on the horizon, which means the eight (boys and girls combined) Western Massachusetts tournaments are as well. Teams across the valley are hoping to play their best basketball of the season over the next several weeks to be in the best position possible to compete for a sectional crown.

High Schools: Amherst boys basketball falls to Longmeadow, 61-53

The Amherst boys basketball team received 38 combined points from Mitchell Carey and Samuel Woodruff, but couldn’t pull out the road victory in its 61-53 loss to Longmeadow on Tuesday night.

Girls basketball: Belchertown takes down Hampshire, 45-31

By GARRETT COTE

BELCHERTOWN — The visiting Hampshire girls basketball team continued to hang around as it trailed Belchertown by 10 in the third quarter – looking to make a push to really put pressure on the Orioles.

Sophomore Marqui Worthy works into his role on UMass men’s basketball team

By GARRETT COTE

AMHERST — Down by three with under 15 seconds remaining in the UMass men’s basketball team’s game at Fordham on Jan. 15, the Minutemen needed a 3-pointer to send the game to overtime after being up as many as a dozen earlier in the second half.

High Schools: Smith Academy girls basketball cruises past St. Mary’s, 62-31

The Smith Academy girls basketball team wasted no time getting into a groove offensively against St. Mary’s on Monday. 

Local high school teams compete in PVIAC indoor track meet

By GARRETT COTE

NORTHAMPTON — The fifth meet of the PVIAC indoor track season took place at Smith College on Sunday, and six Hampshire County schools were in action across the two meets.

Jaylen Curry leads UMass men’s basketball past La Salle, 82-60 (PHOTOS)

By GARRETT COTE

AMHERST — In the midst of a UMass men’s basketball second-half avalanche that catapulted it ahead of La Salle by 14 with under four minutes to go, Minutemen guard Jaylen Curry stepped into an open 3-pointer at the top of the key.

UMass hockey: O’Hara hat trick leads Minutemen over Merrimack, 5-2

By RYAN AMES

AMHERST — Cole O’Hara tied a career-high in points in the UMass hockey team’s 5-2 win over Merrimack on Saturday.

UMass women’s basketball: St. Joseph’s downs Minutewomen, 67-55

A slow second quarter sank the UMass women’s basketball team in its 67-55 loss to Saint Joseph’s on Saturday at the Mullins Center.

UMass hockey: Minutemen fall to Merrimack on the road, 3-2

The UMass hockey team nearly pulled off a last-second comeback in its 3-2 loss to Merrimack on Friday at Lawler Rink.

High Schools: Frontier boys basketball falls to Pioneer, 70-53 (PHOTOS)

Late in the second quarter, the Frontier boys basketball team was threatening to disrupt Pioneer’s unbeaten season. 

Girls basketball: Smith Vocational’s Makayla Tatro reaches 1,000-point milestone against PV Christian (PHOTOS)

By RYAN AMES

SPRINGFIELD — Makayla Tatro needed one basket to surpass 1,000 career points after one quarter of the Smith Voc girls basketball team’s game against Pioneer Valley Christian Academy on Friday.

High Schools: Smith Vocational boys basketball defeats Smith Academy, 49-46 (PHOTOS)

By RYAN AMES

NORTHAMPTON — Three free throws decided Thursday night's Smith Voc-Smith Academy boys basketball game.

UMass hockey: Minutemen ready for home-and-home series against Merrimack

By RYAN AMES

Six points in the Hockey East standings are up for grabs this weekend in the UMass hockey team’s upcoming home and home series against Merrimack.