NTL BOYS BASKETBALL: NEB OPENS DISTRICT PLAY WITH WIN OVER SAYRE (February 18, 2026)

Northern Tier Sports Report
ROME — NEB rolled past Sayre and into the District IV, Class AA Boys Basketball Tournament semifinals on Wednesday, besting the Redskins 75-24.

The Panthers watched Sayre take a 2-0 lead then scored 16 straight points en route to a 23-6 first quarter lead. They never looked back after that.

“It feels good to get the jitters out,” said NEB coach Paul Burgert.

NEB missed their first five shots of the night before settling down as their seniors got to play one more game on their home court.

“It’s why you want to be a top four seed so you can get a home game,” said Burgert. “That’s always nice because it’s neutral from here on out.”

The top seeded Panthers led 45-11 at the half against the short handed Sayre squad ensuring the second half would played under the mercy rule.

“A shout out to the Sayre kids who played today, they played hard,” remarked Burgert. 

Nate Gross led four Panthers in double figures with 15 points to go with seven rebounds, while Eli Stanton, and Cooper Brown had 12 points apiece. Stanton also had three assists, and two steals, with Brown grabbing six rebounds, and getting two steals.

Clay Wilks added a double-double of 10 points and 12 boards, as Dayton Russell had nine points, and five boards.

Daniel Barrett and Mac Burgert added five points apiece, Anthony Jordan scored four, and Landon Knolles finished with three points.

Brayden Northrup led Sayre with eight points.

Stanton led the Panther attack out of the gate with six points, while Brown added five. NEB made it to the free throw line 12 times in the opening frame, making eight of them.

Gross had six points in the second quarter to lead NEB, with Russell netting five, while Burgert poured in a 3-ball.

The Panthers out scored Sayre 21-11 in the third as eight different Maroon and Gray players scored, led by five from Brown.

NEB will now face East Juniata on Saturday at 2:30 p.m. down at Loyalsock. The Lady Panthers open the action with a 1 p.m. contest against Southern Columbia.

“I feel like they’re hungry,” Burgert said about his bunch. “They’ve got lofty goals, and they’re working hard to get them.”

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PHOTOS BY CHRIS MANNING

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