NTL BOYS' BASKETBALL: TROY HOLDS OFF WYALUSING CHARGE FOR LEAGUE WIN (2023-01-27)

BY CHRIS MANNING
Northern Tier Sports Report
WYALUSING — It was a high energy environment at Wyalusing on Thursday, and that ratcheted up even more when Ram Blake Morningstar got his 1,000th point about halfway through the first quarter. However, the young Troy team stayed calm, and showed their growth, holding off a second half Wyalusing charge and pulling away to pick up the NTL Division-I boys’ basketball win, 69-51.

The Trojans were hot from deep with eight 3-balls in the game - six in the first half - and hit the offensive boards hard with 15 as a team. 

The key to the win, though, was their play late in the second half. Wyalusing cut it to 52-46 halfway through the third quarter, but the Trojans ended that frame on a 9-0 run to go up 61-46. 

In the fourth they held the Rams to just five points, a mix between strong defensive play and time killing on offense.

“I was happy with our effort, team play, and composure, especially down the stretch,” said Troy coach Bob Woodward.

JB Burbage continued his strong play with a game high 27 points to go with five boards, while Evan Woodward and Colin Loveland had 10 points apiece. Woodward also had seven assists, and two steals.

Lance Heasley added six points and nine rebounds, while Justice Chimics and Lincoln Chimics both netted five points. Justice had six boards, three assists, and two steals with Lincoln getting six rebounds, and two steals.

Jackson Taylor chipped in with four points, five assists, and two steals.

Morningstar led Wyalusing with 26 points, keeping them in the game through the first three quarters, as he had 24 going into the fourth.

He got his 1,000th point midway through the first quarter, and it seemed to give his team a jolt as they were down by 10 points at that point.

“Congratulations to Blake Morningstar on scoring his 1,000th,” Woodward said. “He creates a lot of challenges in a big way.”

Parker Petlock and Nick Vanderpool Jr. both netted 11, while Trehnon Hugo finished with three.

Troy used the long ball to jump out to a 13-2 lead right off the bat, thanks to 3-balls from Loveland, Woodward, and Burbage.

Morningstar’s corner 3-ball for his 1,000th cut it to 13-5, but Wyalusing was called for a technical after their student body swarmed the floor to celebrate Morningstar’s accomplishment.

Loveland hit both the free throws to make it 15-5. Buckets from Woodward and Burbage would extend Troy’s lead to 19-5 with 3:45 on the clock.

Morningstar would get an old fashioned three point play to cut it to 19-8. After a Burbage freebie Morningstar got another lay-up to make it a 10-point game with 1:38 on the clock.

A Burbage put back followed by Loveland’s second 3-ball extended Troy’s lead to 25-10 with under a minute to go.

Vanderpool would get a jumper at the other end, but a buzzer 3-pointer from Lincoln Chimics saw Troy take a 28-12 lead at the first horn.

The hot shooting continued into the second quarter for Troy, with Wyalusing picking up the pace offensively, as well.

Petlock got a driving lay-up, plus one, to start the second, followed by Burbage getting a lay-up himself.

Vanderpool added a jumper, followed by Taylor getting a lay-up at the other end. Morningstar answered with his patented jump hook, but a Burbage 3-ball saw Troy take a 35-19 lead just two minutes into the frame.

The Rams would go on a little 4-0 spurt to cut it to 35-23 with five minutes left in the half, but after a little dry spell Justice found Burbage for a lay-up to make it 47-23 with 3:10 left to play.

Morningstar answered with a jump hook, but Heasley came back the n ext possession with a put back.

Morningstar would get another 3-point play to cut it to 39-28 with two minutes left. 

Burbage would answer 10 seconds later with a driving lay-up for his 19th point of the game to put the Trojans up 13.

Petlock answered with a bucket, but three freebies fro Troy put them up 14 points. Hugo would get a late 3-ball to make it 44-33 at the half.

The two teams would open the third quarter with 3-pointers - one by Vanderpool, one by Burbage. That Burbage 3-ball sparked an 8-0 Troy run that saw them go up 50-35 a minute-and-a-half into the third quarter.

That’s when Wyalusing made their move, going on a 8-0 run themselves behind five points from Morningstar, and a 3-ball out of Petlock. 

That cut the deficit to 52-46 with 4:27 on the clock, but the Trojans would regroup.

After a Justice free throw Heasley would get a put back at the 3:06 mark to make it 55-46. Woodward then answered with back to back lay-ups to push the lead to 59-46, followed by Lincoln getting a lay-up with 38.6 seconds on the clock for a 61-46 advantage going into the final frame.

Justice Chimics opened the fourth with a bucket for Troy to make it an 11-0 run going back to the third, and putting them up 63-46. Petlock would answer with a 3-ball at the 7-minute mark to cut it to 63-49, but the Rams wouldn’t score again until two minutes to play.

Troy would add to their lead by that point, going up 67-49, effectively securing the win.

Wyalusing falls to 3-13 on the year, and will host Canton on Saturday for a 1:15 p.m. tip-off time in a key NTL cross-over game. 

As for Troy (12-5), this was another sign of their growth, taking care of business down the stretch to pull out a win on the road.

“Our goal is to keep growing,” said coach Woodward.

They’ll get the chance next Tuesday when they travel to NP-Mansfield, winners of 15 straight, for another NTL Division-I tilt.

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PHOTO CAPTION: Troy’s Evan Woodward goes up for a lay-up…PHOTOS BY CHRIS MANNING