NTL GIRLS' BASKETBALL: MANCHESTER USES BIG FOURTH QUARTER TO HELP TOWANDA HOLD OFF BERWICK (2023-01-29)

Northern Tier Sports Report
TOWANDA — Towanda overcame a slow start to top Berwick during non-league girls’ basketball action on Saturday.

The Knights had just five first quarter points, and were down by four at the half. However, they turned up the defense in the third, holding Berwick to just four points in the frame to take a 23-21 lead. Then, in the fourth, they had a game high 17 points to pick up the win, despite Berwick hitting four 3-balls in the final eight minutes.

Paige Manchester had 21 points, eight boards, and five steals to lead the Knights, while Brynn Woodruff added 11 points, and eight rebounds.

Gracie Schoonover had six points and 10 rebounds, as Bella Hurley notched two points.

Berwick had seven 3-pointers in the game, though Towanda used the free throw line to compensate, going 15-for-21 from the charity stripe.

Offense was hard to come by in the first quarter, with Woodruff scoring all of Towanda’s five points. Despite the slow start they found themselves down just 7-5 after the first eight minutes.

Things opened up a little bit more for both teams in the second with Berwick out scoring Towanda 10-8. Manchester led the Knights with four points.

She got going in the third, scoring eight of her team’s 10 points to help them take the 2-point lead. In the fourth Manchester only had one field goal, but went 7-for-10 from the free throw line. She also got some help as Schoonover had four points, with Hurley and Woodruff also getting buckets.

The win clinches Towanda (11-3) a district playoff spot as they head down to a 12-3 Jersey Shore team on Monday.