NTL BOYS' BASKETBALL: NEB LOOKS TO TAKE CARE OF SOME UNFINISHED BUSINESS IN 2025-2026 (November 29, 2025)

BY CHRIS MANNING
Northern Tier Sports Report
Northeast Bradford boys’ basketball has a lot going for it coming into the season. They return all but one player from last year’s team that made a deep district run, the returning players from last year’s crew played in back to back district games that went to overtime, and they grew…and grew…and grew.

All of those younger players put some inches on as the Panthers should be long and lean this year.

“It’s funny how that works,” NEB coach Paul Burgert said about his team going from one of the shorter teams in the league to looking like one of the taller ones. “There’s been a few years where we were tight, and now I look around and we’re probably going to be as big as any team on our schedule, and that’s a good thing.”

Returning four of five starters, though, will be the main driver this year, and the player with his hand on the wheel will likely be the shortest starter on the team - point guard Eli Stanton.

“He’s unbelievably quick, and a great competitor,” said Burgert. “He is kind of our rock.”

Stanton is enjoying the more size compared to year’s past.

“It helps with rebounding, and just being able to guard bigger guys,” said Stanton.

Stanton was one of the most consistent players on the team during the playoff run, and hopes the experience will pay-off this year.

“Knowing that having that on our backs just gives us more motivation,” he said.

They also return leading scorer Cooper Brown, whose turn around jumper has been giving teams fits since he was a sophomore.

“We’re expecting leadership out of him, and to help these young guys,” Burgert said.

Brown says he’s been working on his shooting and defense this past offseason.

“We need to step up our defense and hustle,” he remarked. “I think our chances are good that we’re going to have a good year.”

And then some of the younger of players that saw time last year should have bigger roles this year such as 6-foot, 5-inch center Clay Wilks, and guard Mac Burgert.

“I think they’re going to hit the ground running this year,” coach Burgert said. “The lights are not going to be too bright for them.”

They bring back 6-foot, 3-inch senior Dayton Russell, along with 6-foot, 4-inch sophomore Nate Gross. Guards Daniel Barrett, Brody Allen, and Landon Knolles also return to fill out the roster.

After last year’s success the sites this year are a little higher. They want to claim the NTL Small School title, and win those district games they lost a year ago.

“It makes us want to work harder to make it past those games,” Brown said.

For their veteran coach, he feels the sky is the limit this year.

“I’m excited about the possibilities for this year,” said Burgert. “We’ve got some great continuity. We have a lot of guys that have put in a lot of time this off-season, getting in the weight room, getting bigger, stronger, and they’re excited to be in the gym.”

Last year they watched as NP-Liberty claimed both a league title and district title, a team they competed with throughout the season.

“The goals are higher,” Burgert said. “The kids want it. They really want to win that league title, and they really want to win that district title.”

ROSTER (Grade)
Anthony Johnson (9)
Eli Stanton (12)
Daniel Barrett (11)
Landon Knolles (10)
Cooper Brown (12)
Nate Gross (10)
Mac Burgert (10)
Dayton Russell (12)
Brody Allen (11)
Clay Wilks (10)

SCHEDULE
Dec. 1 at Blue Ridge, 7 p.m.
Dec. 5 vs Meadowbrook at Montgomery Tournament, 5 p.m.
Dec. 6 at Montgomery Tournament
Dec. 11 at Wellsboro, 7:30 p.m.
Dec. 13 vs Montrose, 2:30 p.m.
Dec. 16 vs Wyalusing, 7:30 p.m.
Dec. 18 at Troy, 7:30 p.m.
Dec. 20 at Elk Lake, noon
Dec. 23 vs NPL, 7:30 p.m.
Jan. 2 vs Tioga, 7:30 p.m.
Jan. 6 vs Canton, 7:30 p.m.
Jan. 8 at Sayre, 7:30 p.m.
Jan. 13 at CV, 7 p.m.
Jan. 15 vs Williamson, 7:30 p.m.
Jan. 17 at Williamson, 7:30 p.m.
Jan. 21 vs NPM, 7:30 p.m.
Jan. 23 at Athens, 7:30 p.m.
Jan. 26 vs CV, 7 p.m.
Jan. 28 vs Towanda, 7 p.m.
Jan. 30 at NPL, 7:30 p.m.
Feb. 4 at Canton, 7:30 p.m.
Feb. 6 vs Sayre, 7:30 p.m.



Print Friendly Version