LOWELL, MA (FRANKLIN COUNTY NOW) — The South Hadley girls basketball team claimed the first state championship in program history, defeating the Frontier Redhawks in the MIAA Division 4 title game, 49-38 Tsongas Center at UMass-Lowell Saturday afternoon.

Frontier struggled early on but rallied late in the first quarter to take a one-point lead into the second quarter. But the Redhawks were held to just two points in the second quarter and spent the rest of the game desperately trying to erase the deficit.

The Tigers had lost to Cathedral High School in each of the last two state finals, and were able to shake off a cold-shooting first half to eventually pull away from the Redhawks and seal the victory.

The third-seeded Tigers finished the season with a 16-10 record, while top-seed Frontier completed its season at 21-4.