NTL GIRLS' BASKETBALL: TOWANDA HANGS ON LATE TO BEAT ATHENS (2024-01-10)

Northern Tier Sports Report
TOWANDA — Towanda’s defense came up big at the end and the Black Knights pulled out another close one, beating Athens 38-36 in NTL girls’ basketball action Wednesday.

Payton Perry hit a free throw late to make it a 2-point game, then came up with the loose ball at the other end to seal the win.

“A lot of our wins are done with toughness,” said Towanda coach Rob Gentile. “The kids figure it out. We made a lot of mistakes, but we have to be put in those positions to grow from them. That’s what I just told them, in life as in basketball you’ve got to fail before you succeed. We’ve been fortunate that we’ve had some failures in those games but we’ve been able to overcome them, and gut them out and get the win.”

Mya Maynard led the Knights with 11 points and 10 boards for the double-double, while also getting two assists.

Brynn Woodruff had a double-double, too, with 10 points and 10 boards, and Perry finished with eight points, five steals, and three assists.

Melody Hakes had seven points and six rebounds, as Kennedy Heyer finished with two points, and three boards. Alonna Ayres chipped in with five boards.

Kenna Jarvis and Addy Wheeler had 14 points apiece to lead Athens.

“They have one of the best players in the league,” Gentile said about Wheeler. “We had to do things I don’t usually do - Addy is just one of the toughest kids in our league. She defends every position.”

It was a low scoring first quarter as the Wildcats took a 6-5 lead behind four points from Wheeler. Things opened up in the second quarter as the two teams scored 12 points apiece. Wheeler continued to roll for Athens, netting seven points, while Maynard led Towanda with six.

Towanda used a 12-7 third quarter run to take a 29-25 lead, with Perry netting five points and Woodruff scoring four.

The Wildcats rallied in the final frame, scoring 11 points behind six from Jarvis. They also held Towanda to just one field goal in the frame, though Towanda did enough from the free throw line - 7-for-16 - to hold on for the win.

Towanda (6-4) are now winners of three straight as they head to league unbeaten Troy on Thursday. The Trojans recently beat this Wildcat squad 54-28.

“That’s going to be a tough one,” said Gentile.

— — 

PHOTO CAPTION: Towanda’s Kennedy Heyer drives to the basket…PHOTOS BY CHRIS MANNING

Print Friendly Version