NTL BOYS' BASKETBALL: NEB CAN'T FIND THEIR OFFENSE IN LOSS TO NP-LIBERTY (January 4, 2026)

Northern Tier Sports Report
ROME — Everything that could go wrong did go wrong for NEB in their 48-22 loss to NP-Liberty during NTL boys’ basketball action Saturday.

They struggled from the field - 10-for-44, and just 2-for-21 from deep - as NPL didn’t allow them to get out and run or the get ball inside.

The Panthers found themselves down 17-4 after the first quarter, though they cut the deficit to 12 late in the third. 

However, in the final frame NPL held them scoreless to pull away for the win.

Dayton Russell had nine points, eight boards, and three steals to lead NEB, as Eli Stanton finished with six points, and two steals.

Cooper Brown netted three points to go with eight boards, as Nate Gross, and Clay Wilks had two points apiece.

NPL’s Luke Kreger had three 3-balls en route to 25 points, while adding 10 boards to get the double-double, plus four steals.

Connor Lewis added 10 points and 15 boards for a double-double, plus three steals, as Evan McTish notched six points, and two steals.

Landon Mattern had five points, with Brody Grinnell getting two points, four boards, four assists, and three steals.

It was 2-2 to start when Kreger hit back to back 3-balls to make it 8-2. That sparked a 10-0 run that saw the Mounties take a 12-2 lead before Stanton hit a lay-up.

Kreger came back with a lay-up of his own, followed by a Mattern 3-ball for a 17-4 score after one.

Stanton opened the second quarter with a jumper to make it an 11-point game, but NPL came back with eight straight points, six of them by Kreger to extend the lead to 25-6 halfway through the second quarter.

Russell was able to get some moment for NEB down the stretch of the first half, scoring seven straight to make it a 25-13 game at the break.

NPL came out of the locker rooms and scored four straight to extend their lead to 29-13.

Wilks would get a bucket inside for NEB, only to see NPL go on another 4-0 run to push their lead to 33-15.

The Panthers would rally after that, going on a 7-1 spurt to cut it to 34-22 as they tried to get it to single digits going into the final frame.

Kreger, though, had the final say of the quarter, hitting two free throws for a 36-22 contest heading to the fourth.

It was all Mounties there as they out scored NEB 12-0 to pull away, with four different players getting into the scoreboard for NPL.

NEB (7-2) will look to break their 2-game skid when they host Canton on Tuesday, while NPL (3-4) welcomes Williamson.

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PHOTOS BY CHRIS MANNING

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