NTL GIRLS' BASKETBALL: TOWANDA HOLDS OFF NP-LIBERTY (2025-01-20)
CHRIS MANNINGNorthern Tier Sports ReportTOWANDA — Towanda girls’ hoops gutted out a win over a pesky NP-Liberty squad, 50-39, during NTL action Monday.
The two teams went tit-for-tat to start the game, but a 9-4 run by the Knights to end the first quarter put them up by five at the first horn. They more or less stayed there, extending the lead to as much as double digits, but the Mounties didn’t go away until the final buzzer.
“I like to say a win is a win but I think we took a little bit of a step back today,” said Towanda coach Rob Gentile. “The effort wasn’t there, energy wasn’t there. It’s hard to play on a Monday night in an empty gym. The kids didn’t have school today, but at the end of the day they’re just excuses, and we have to be better than that.”
The Knights shot the ball well from deep, hitting eight 3-pointers, but also struggled from the line, going 4-for-12. They kept NPL’s ball handlers under pressure the majority of the night, and had enough offensive runs to keep the Mounties had arm’s length.
“In those spots, when things are going good for us, the kids will compete,” said Gentile. “We get energy on the bench, and we get a couple quick buckets, and then it just disappears. Right now our biggest issue is consistency. Our kids have competed all year playing really hard, and it’s tough when you come in front of your own crowd, and finally get a home game, and you don’t give the effort that you’ve been giving.”
Brynn Woodruff had 19 points, nine boards, four assists, and four steals to lead Towanda, as Payton Perry had 10 points, and two steals.
Karis Flynn notched eight points, and four steals, with Mya Maynard getting six points, and six boards.
Reese Sullivan had four points, as Kennedy Heyer notched three points, with two steals.
Haley Litzelman led three NPL players in double figures with 14.
Kendall Graham notched 12 points, Kaylee Graham had 11, and Jaci Fairchild finished with two.
Flynn opened the game up with a 3-ball, only for Kendall to come back and get a lay-up. Perry followed with a bucket of her own, but NPL would go on a 5-0 run to take a 7-5 lead.
Sullivan bagged a jumper to re-tie the game, while Kaylee put NPL back up with a free throw.
A Perry 3-pointers made it 10-8, with Kendall scoring another basket for a 10-10 score.
The two teams traded buckets again for 12-12, but then Towanda went on a 7-0 run, sparked by another Flynn 3-ball.
Woodruff added a pair of freebies, followed by Maynard getting a lay-up to make it 19-12. Fairchild cut it to 19-14 at the first horn for the Mounties.
Woodruff scored three straight points for Towanda to start the second, followed by Litzelman getting a pair of freebies for a 22-16 score.
Towanda then went on a 6-0 run - all by Woodruff - to extend their lead to 28-16.
A Kaylee 3-ball with 1:50 left to play in the half was NPL’s first field goal of the second quarter. That was followed by baskets from Kendall and Litzelman to cut the deficit to 28-23.
Woodruff, though, had the final say of the half with a 3-pointer for a 31-23 score.
Four straight points NPL to open the third made it a 31-27 game, but a Heyer 3-pointer sparked a 9-0 run for the Knights.
Sullivan got a lay-up, Woodruff hit a runner, and Maynard got a put back for a 40-27 lead after three.
In the final frame NPL didn’t go away, making it 42-32 off a 5-2 run, but a Perry 3-pointer put the Knights back up by 13.
Litzelman kept NPL’s hope alive, making it 45-35, but a Woodruff 3-ball off a Perry helper, followed by a Maynard bucket off a Woodruff assist extended the lead to 15 and secure the win.
This is the first of three games in four days for Towanda (7-7) as they host CV on Tuesday. That’s followed by Wyalusing, NEB, and Athens the following week.
“It’s going to be a gauntlet,” Gentile said. “Our focus is on us, and just trying to improve. We addressed it, I think we took a little step back tonight, but I have faith in them. I have confidence in them that we’re going to come out, do the right thing, play the way we play, and have better performances moving forward.”
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PHOTOS BY CHRIS MANNING
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