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.

High school notebook: Amherst girls swimming nearing state qualification in 4x400 free relay

By RYAN AMES

The Amherst girls swimming team’s 400-yard freestyle relay squad knows what it takes to win.

The Real Score: Where sports and climate change meet

By ANNE DIETRICH

As we step into a new political era with Monday’s inauguration of Donald Trump, many wonder how his administration’s environmental policies will shape our future. With proposed rollbacks on climate agreements and renewable energy projects, those of us in the Pioneer Valley who cherish nature may feel uncertain and anxious. But beyond just affecting nature, the new president’s policies also impact leisure activities, recreation, and sport. As a sports lover, I am concerned about President Trump’s (lack of) environmental agenda. If you care about sports — from community games to professional leagues — there are things we all can do to protect this favorite pastime.

UMass men’s basketball: Minutemen defeat Fordham in triple-overtime thriller, 120-118

By GARRETT COTE

In what will go down as one of the best games in UMass men’s basketball and Atlantic 10 history, the Minutemen somehow, some way overcame sickness, foul trouble and 39 team fouls to defeat Fordham 120-118 in a triple-overtime marathon that lasted nearly four hours on the 100th anniversary of Rose Hill Gymnasium in the Bronx on Wednesday night.

High Schools: Frontier wrestling suffers first loss of the season in 59-22 defeat to Franklin Tech

A pair of unbeaten wrestling teams met up in Turners Falls on Wednesday. 

High School Basketball Notebook: Hampshire Regional girls shining under first-year coach

By GARRETT COTE

Some high school basketball teams have reached 10 of their 20-game schedule already, and now at about the midway point of the regular season, it’s safe to say there has been some high-level basketball across Hampshire County so far this winter.

UMass women’s basketball: Pair of first half runs propel Minutewomen past La Salle, 82-66 (PHOTOS)

By RYAN AMES

AMHERST — On Field Trip Day at the Mullins Center, the UMass women’s basketball team gave the kids plenty to cheer for in its 82-66 win over La Salle on Wednesday.

Boys basketball: Holyoke moves to 8-0 following 65-49 win over Northampton (PHOTOS)

By GARRETT COTE

HOLYOKE — It didn’t take a Chauncey Ruiz buzzer beater or an overtime thriller for the Holyoke boys basketball team to defeat Northampton on Tuesday night like it has needed in previous games this season, but the Purple Knights did have to dig deep after going the first three and a half minutes of the fourth quarter without a point.

High schools: Amherst girls swimming wins fourth in a row following 133-39 triumph over Easthampton

The Amherst girls swimming team picked up its fourth win in a row in its 133-39 victory against Easthampton on Tuesday at the Amherst Middle School pool.

UMass football: Joe Harasymiak brings in three transfers, adds to coaching staff

By GARRETT COTE

AMHERST — The buzz around the UMass football team is real, and for good reason. New Minutemen head coach Joe Harasymiak continues to hit the transfer portal hard, and he’s recently signed three more three-star recruits to add to his loaded incoming group – one that 247 Sports ranks 10th in the Group of 5.

High schools: Holyoke’s Kiara Perez scores 15 points in loss to SICS (PHOTOS)

The Holyoke girls basketball team had its hands full on Monday night, hosting Springfield International Charter School for the two teams’ first of a pair of meetings this season. Despite a strong effort early on, the Bulldogs overwhelmed the Purple Knights en route to a 66-28 Holyoke loss on its home floor.

Indoor track: South Hadley girls earn three first place finishes at PVIAC Meet No. 4

By GARRETT COTE

NORTHAMPTON — The fourth meet of the PVIAC indoor track season took place at Smith College on Sunday, and five Hampshire County schools competed while one enjoyed their bye week.

Victory Lap with Jessica Lapachinski: New Year, New You?

(Editor’s note: This is the first installment of a new monthly column that will run in print on the second Monday of each month)

Girls basketball: Mired in losing season, Amherst remaining eternally positive

By GARRETT COTE

AMHERST — Anthony Quinones rarely ever sits down during games. The competitive nature that ripples through his veins simply doesn’t allow him to.

UMass basketball: Minutewomen halt 2-game skid with 67-58 win over St. Bonaventure

After dropping two games in a row, the UMass women’s basketball team got back to their winning ways on Sunday.