When you’re the top team in the Hampshire League North, you’re going to get every team’s best shot the rest of the way.

Such was the case in Westhampton on Tuesday night, as visiting Athol withstood a big push from Hampshire Regional but escaped with its unblemished HL North record intact. The Bears held on for a 58-50 victory, improving to 13-1 overall, 10-0 in the league.

“It was a grind and we showed perseverance,” Athol coach Brian Patria said. “Hampshire battled us, for sure. We are going to get everyone’s best going forward. Colby Goodwin played terrific for us, Angel Castillo as well.”

Castillo scored 17 points in the win, including eight in the fourth quarter to help put things away. Ben Kearney (11 points) and Ethan Bacigalupo (10) joined him in double figures, while Goodwin scored all six of his points in the second half.

Athol led 20-17 at halftime and just 34-30 after three quarters against the Raiders (8-6, 6-4).

The Bears now turn their attention to a North Quabbin showdown on Friday against Mahar, the only team to beat them so far this season.

Drury 41, Pioneer 33 – It was a third quarter to forget for the Panthers.

Tied at halftime, Pioneer was held scoreless for the first 6 minutes, 45 seconds of the third quarter. The visiting Blue Devils stormed out of the break on an 11-0 run, ultimately hold off the Panthers in a key Hampshire League South game at Messer Gymnasium in Northfield on Tuesday.

It was a season-low 33 points for Pioneer, which fell to 9-4 on the season with its second loss in a row.

The teams were tied 19-19 at halftime before Drury (10-2) used the run to take control. Pioneer struggled from the outside in the frame, and finally got on the board when Kurt Redeker sank a layup with 1:15 to play. The hosts were ultimately outscored by an 11-4 margin and trailed 31-23 entering the fourth.

It was more of the same in the final period. Brayden Thayer’s 3-pointer, the team’s first 3 of the game, cut the deficit to 33-26, but Drury held the Panthers in check and never let them get any closer. 

Thayer finished with 14 points, Hugh Cyhowski scored eight points and Kurt Redeker added six points for Pioneer. 

Frontier 68, Hopkins 53 — Max Millette put on a show for the Redhawks, scoring 29 points to propel Frontier to a Hampshire League South win over the Golden Hawks at Goodnow Gymnasium on Tuesday. 

Frontier led 36-22 at the half. 

Owen Babb scored 13 points and pulled down 16 rebounds, Caiden Manning finished with nine points, Nico Fasulo and Rowan Modestow both tallied six points while Garrett Dredge added four points in the win. 

James Fitzgibbons scored 21 points for Hopkins. 

Lee 67, Turners 61 — The Wildcats pulled ahead 34-18 at the half and held off a late Turners push to earn a Hampshire League North victory in Turners on Tuesday. 

Jackson Cogswell scored 21 points and pulled down 10 rebounds, Caden Williams-Senethavisouk recorded 18 points and nine rebounds, Joey Mosca tallied 11 points while Cam Burnett scored five points for Turners. 

Mahar 61, Lenox 50 — The Senators raced ahead 31-18 at the half, leading to a Hampshire League South win in Lenox on Tuesday. 

Will Barnes finished with 16 points and 10 rebounds, Morgan Softic scored 12 points, dished six assists and swiped four steals, Derek Collins tallied 13 points, Jayden Delgado tallied 10 points and 10 rebounds while Lucas Isrow scored three points and added seven assists for Mahar. 

Four Rivers 39, Hartsbrook 24 — Meir Dragon scored 10 points, Ethan Sandberg tallied nine points while Cooper Whitney and Isaiah Goleman both had eight points for the Otters a road win over Hartsbrook on Tuesday. 

Girls basketball

Frontier 44, Belchertown 42 (OT) — The Redhawks outscored the Orioles 6-4 in the extra session, springing a huge road victory on Tuesday night in Belchertown.

It was the fifth win in a row for Frontier, which improved to 13-2 overall with the victory.

Skyler Steele and Claire Kirkendall led the way offensively with 12 points apiece for the Hawks, while Harper Modestow went for eight points and Hailey Hutkoski added six.

Wrestling

Mahar 48, Pathfinder 21 — Six different Senator wrestlers earned victories via pin to help Mahar walk away with a victory over the Pioneers in Orange on Tuesday. 

Lucas Briand (120), Elias Roberts (132), Colby Chiasson (144), Sayyid Roberts (150), Khalil Roberts (190) and Leighton Soucie (215) were those Mahar winners. 

Senator Josh Maza might not have won his match, but Mahar coach John Speek called it the most impressive performance of the night. Taking on Pathfinder’s William Burke — a Div. 3 state champion last year — Maza took him late into the second period before being pinned. 

 Late Monday results

Ware 26, Mohawk Trail 17 — The Warriors trailed 22-17 in the final minute but Ware knocked down its free throws late to earn a Franklin County League South win in Buckland on Monday. 

Rachel Pease scored seven points, Bella Pettengill finished with six points while Natalie Lanoue knocked down a 3 for Mohawk Trail.