NTL BOYS BASKETBALL: TOWANDA USES BIG FOURTH QUARTER TO HOLD OFF ATHENS FOR NTL SHOWCASE TITLE (February 15, 2026)

Northern Tier Sports Report
MANSFIELD — Towanda took the rubber match against Athens, beating the Wildcats 53-42 to claim the NTL Showcase Boys Basketball title on Saturday.

“It’s been a while since we’ve played in this game,” said Towanda coach Landon Henry. “Our group of guys worked really hard, and we’ve earned the opportunity to play in a cool atmosphere like this. Big thanks to Mansfield University for allowing it to be possible. A lot of high school players go their whole careers without having an experience like this. For our program, this is another goal of ours that we’ve accomplished, and we’re hitting a good stride here as we head into districts. We’re eager for more.”

Towanda built a 27-21 lead at the half, but saw it shrink to 36-32 going into the fourth.

They came through with a big final effort, out scoring Athens 17-10 in the final frame to get the win.

Markell Garner had a hand in that big finish, netting nine of his 16 in the fourth, while Boom Thompson got them off to a fast start, scoring 11 of his 14 in the first quarter.

“We came into the year wanting to win this thing,” Thompson said. “I was taking some rough shots because I was making a lot. But I slowed down and knocked some more down as I could.”

Josh Maye netted eight, Lucas Vincent scored seven, Darrius Farrell netted six, and Landon Clark scored two.

Lucas Schultz had 14 to lead the Wildcats with Aiden Briggs and James Friend scoring nine points each.

It was a 15-10 first quarter lead for the Knights, while Garner had seven of his team’s 12 second quarter points to help them build that 6-point halftime lead.

Athens rallied in the third, holding Towanda to just nine points, as Schultz went off for seven of his own.

Then came the fourth that saw Garner take over, while Vincent hit a 3-pointer in the final frame as the Knights went 6-for-8 from the charity stripe.

“What a force inside,” Henry said. “He stepped up in a big place tonight. I loved his composure at the free throw line, I loved his activity on the glass. The game just really came to him, and he’s a guy that we’re going to lean on heavily as the season continues to unfold. I’m very proud of the young man, and he’s only going to get better.”

They’ll now face Loyalsock at home in the district playoffs.

“Just tightening up the defensive end, and the offensive end will always come, but the defensive end is where we will always put our focus,” said Henry. “Honestly, just when we head into districts we are what we are right now. We’ve got to trust the work we put in to get to this point because it’s enough.”

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PHOTOS BY PETER KUTBAY

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