NTL GIRLS' BASKETBALL: WYALUSING GETS BIG LEAD EARLY IN WIN OVER NP-MANSFIELD (January 10, 2026)

BY CHRIS MANNING
Northern Tier Sports Report
WYALUSING — Wyalusing beat NP-Mansfield in one of the wildest games involving a mercy rule, holding off a late Tigers charge, 52-44, during NTL girls’ hoops action Friday.

Early in the third the Rams took a 49-19 lead to invoke the running clock, but were out scored 25-3 the rest of the way as the Tigers got hot late but ultimately ran out of time.

“A win is a win no matter how ugly they are,” said Wyalusing coach Nick Reynolds. “The kids did a lot of great things tonight. There’s always room for improvement. We worked on some things, we worked on some rotations. I felt good coming out of this game. Regardless of the score, the kids played a very good basketball team, and we’ve just got to continue to stay focused at all times.”

It was a strong offensive performance to get that 30 point lead with runs of 11-0, 17-0, and 17-0 throughout the game to build the big lead.

“That feels really good, it’s really exciting,” Emily Johns said about their offense on Friday.

Alysha Botts led the Rams with 19 points, as Jenna Morningstar, and Johns had 12 points each.

Liz Kilmer netted six, with Treanna Nickeson scoring three.

The Tigers led 4-2 early but that’s when the Rams went on their 11-0 run, kick started by a Morningstar jumper.

Botts, and Johns added back to back lay-ups, followed by a Botts 3-ball for an 11-4 lead.

Morningstar added a put back to make it 13-4 Rams.

NPM answered with a 6-2 run themselves to cut it to 15-10, but a pair of Morningstar free throws to end the frame made it 17-10 Wyalusing.

Kilmer opened the second with a 3-pointer, followed by a Johns put back to make it 22-10.

Nickeson nailed a 3-ball, then the Rams went 3-for-4 from the free throw line to extend the lead to 28-10.

A Johns runner, followed by a Botts steal and bucket gave them a 22-point lead.

NPM would rally with a 9-0 run themselves to cut it to a 13-point deficit.

Wyalusing, though, ended the half strong with a pair of Johns free throws, and a Botts lay-up for the 36-19 score at the half.

Nickeson found Johns for a bucket to start the third, followed by Johnson getting another lay-up.

Back to back 3-balls from Botts and Kilmer made it 46-19, while a Morningstar lay-up, followed by a free throw got them to 49-19.

NPM didn’t quit, though, going on a 11-1 run to end the quarter to make it a 50-30 game going into the fourth.

They hit a pair of deep balls to open the fourth to make it a 14-point game.

Botts hit a jumper to slow their momentum. 

They got it a 14-point deficit again, but time was running down fast.

In the final minute they scored six straight points after the Rams put in their subs.

This is Wyalusing’s third straight win this week, pushing them to above .500 for the first time this season.

“We knew we had to be confident in this game,” Johns said. “We knew they were going to be tough, but we came out with a win.”

The Rams feel their tough early season schedule is paying off now that they’ve gotten to league play.

“I think playing harder teams is better for us, because we like to rise to better teams,” said Johns.

Wyalusing (6-5) will host Athens next Wednesday for a 1 p.m. contest with the student body in attendance.

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PHOTOS BY CHRIS MANNING

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