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High schools: Defense powers Mahar boys basketball past Athol, 47-35 (PHOTOS)

In the first meeting of the season between the Athol and Mahar boys basketball teams, the Bears put up 61 points to walk away with a 61-46 victory at Mallet Gymnasium. The Senators were determined to not let their rival light up the scoreboard the second time around on Tuesday in Orange. After the...

Andy Reid turned a 6-inch binder into a Hall of Fame resume

Andy Reid was an unknown assistant in Green Bay when Eagles owner Jeffrey Lurie took a chance on hiring Brett Favre’s position coach to revive a struggling franchise in Philadelphia.A newspaper headline greeted Reid’s arrival with a headline that said: “Andy Who?”Everybody knows his name now.Reid wo...

Brother vs brother: Kelces prepare for Super Bowl showdown

KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Donna Kelce is going to have to pull out that now-familiar custom jersey — the one with Kansas City Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce’s front stitched to Philadelphia Eagles center Jason Kelce’s back — one more time this season.At least this time, she’ll get to see her boys in person....

UMass-George Mason looking to separate from packed A-10 men’s basketball standings

Just two games separate the No. 4 team in the Atlantic 10 Conference men’s basketball standings – surprising Fordham –  and No. 12 Rhode Island.UMass and its Wednesday opponent George Mason (7 p.m. ESPN-Plus) are among the glut of six teams with 4-5 conference records ranging from six to 12th. That’...

Kilhart: snow and ice budget looks okay – for now

ATHOL — Despite a recent string of storms dumping plenty of snow, rain, and freezing rain, Public Works Director Dick Kilhart said the department’s snow and ice budget is in fairly good shape.“We’re probably about two-thirds into that snow and ice account,” said Kilhart. “They allot us an amount of...

Feeling the fuel pinch: Record number of applicants applying for fuel assistance

GREENFIELD — When they opened their most recent utility bill, Dianne and Robert Rode couldn’t believe that they were being asked to pay $500 for a month’s worth of heat, the highest they’ve ever had to pay in 35 years of living at their home in Heath.“It was astronomical,” Dianne Rode said one day...

Healey seeks $282M for shelter, food aid programs

BOSTON — Reviving debate on an issue that lawmakers left untouched at the end of last session, Gov. Maura Healey on Monday filed a $282 million spending bill she said is necessary to manage a surge in demand for emergency shelter and prevent the free school meals program from running out of money.He...

Several Athol-area locations to open as warming centers this weekend

ATHOL -— In expectation of dangerously low temperatures this Friday and Saturday, several locations in Athol will be opened as warming centers, according to information sent by the town. The National Weather Service is expecting a high of 21 degrees Fahrenheit on Friday and a low of -8. Temperatures...

PHOTO: A look at Royalston history

H.S. Roundup: Athol girls pull away to defeat Mohawk Trail; Frontier boys hand Hopkins 1st loss

A big second quarter enabled the Athol girls basketball team to pull away from Mohawk Trail on Monday night. Leading 8-7 after the first period, the Bears put up 13 points in the second quarter — eight from Emma Bacigalupo, three from Ally Robertson and two from Sammy Mailloux — to take a 21-12 lead...

Hockey: Sammy Knight’s goal helps Greenfield hold off Amherst, 3-2 (PHOTOS)

GREENFIELD — Greenfield hockey coach Adam Bouchard’s message between the second and third periods on Monday night against Amherst must have been well received.The Green Wave and Hurricanes found themselves knotted 2-2 going into the final 15 minutes of action, but it didn’t take Greenfield long to...

Chiefs survive Bengals, get 2 weeks to heal for Super Bowl

KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Patrick Mahomes certainly deserved a game ball from Sunday night’s AFC title game, when the All-Pro quarterback dashed off on his sprained right ankle in the waning seconds to help set up the winning field goal.Travis Kelce probably did, too. With the Chiefs missing three wide rec...

Eagles’ Super Bowl-bound Hurts still trying to quiet haters

PHILADELPHIA — Nick Sirianni and his kids made snow angels in the confetti on the Linc turf. Jalen Hurts puffed on a cigar alone at his locker and scrolled through the congratulatory texts on his phone.Out in the Philly streets, delirious fans refused to let grease slow them down as they slithered...

Burrow, Bengals falter but should stay among AFC contenders

CINCINNATI — Joe Burrow and the Cincinnati Bengals didn’t have another fantastic finish left in them.That had been the specialty of a talented team with a generational quarterback who could find creative ways to win games.The Bengals were supremely confident after winning 10 in a row heading into th...