NTL GIRLS' BASKETBALL: TROY USES STRONG SECOND HALF TO PULL AWAY FROM NEB FOR NTL SHOWCASE TITLE (2025-02-15)

BY CHRIS MANNING
Northern Tier Sports Report
MANSFIELD — Troy’s Alyssa Parks looked comfortable out on Mansfield University’s floor on Friday as the future Mountie led the Trojans to an NTL Girls’ Basketball Showcase title over NEB, 58-42.

They fell down 31-29 early in the third, but then went on a 17-4 run after that to pick up their second straight title.

“It’s the best feeling ever,” Troy’s Alyssa Parks said about being 2-time NTL Showcase champions. “We switched our strategy, and just moved the ball a little more, and just ended up making our shots.”

Parks finished with a game high 18 points, plus five boards, four assists, and three steals as she helped see Troy through Kailyn Sterling’s foul trouble.

“Honestly, it just felt amazing,” Parks said about playing on the college court. “I just fee more confident, and I’m going to use it as an energy boost for next season.”

Teammate Gloria Andrews hit four 3-balls en route to 14 points, plus three assists, and two steals. 

Sterling notched 12 points, and two steals, as Giana Renzi finished with eight points, and three assists.

Kyah Renzo chipped in with four points, with Madelyn Seeley adding two points.

“I thought our girls did a good job competing the entire game, making it tough for Northeast to get to the basket,” Troy coach Curtis Miller said. “I also think that Northeast did a really good job, as well. They came out fast tonight. They have athletes all over the court, they’re very well coached, and we knew that it was going to be a battle. I was just proud of our girls for the way that we battled, as well.”

Lillie Maynard and Leah Beebe had 11 points each to lead the Panthers.

Becca VanDeMark added eight points, and two steals, as Mallorie Maynard had four points, eight rebounds, and four assists.

Lilah Hughes added four points, four boards, and two steals, with Kara Dughi also getting four points.

“I think it was being fatigued,” NEB coach Ben Beebe said about his team’s struggles in the second half. “We played really hard against a really hard Towanda team last night, and came out here, and we competed. It’s a longer court, so I think fatigue kind of wore on us a little bit, and that happens.”

NEB drove the action in the opening quarter, taking a 3-2 lead on a Beebe 3-ball.

They went up 4-2 after a Lillie Maynard free throw, but a Parks 3-pointer followed by a Sterling lay-up saw Troy take a 3-point advantage.

That’s when the Panthers went on their best run of the game, a 12-0 burst kick started by a pair of Lillie Maynard freebies.

Hughes then bagged a jumper, followed by Beebe and Lillie Maynard garnering two straight lay-ups each for a 16-7 lead.

Troy rallied late with Renzo scoring off a Parks assist, followed by Renzo finding Parks for a 3-ball to make it 16-12 at the first horn.

The two teams traded baskets through the first half of the second quarter, with NEB keeping their 4-point advantage to 22-18 halfway through the frame.

Back to back 3-balls from Andrews and Parks pushed ahead, 24-22. A VandeMark free throw made it 24-23, but Andrews followed with another bomb for a 27-23 advantage.

Hughes and Renzi traded jumpers, with Dughi getting a lay-up late for the 29-27 Troy lead at the half.

Buckets from Beebe and Lillie Maynard put NEB back on top 31-29, but a Renzi 3-pointer saw the Trojans retake the lead, 32-31. 

That shot sparked a 7-0 Trojan run as Renzo and Parks had baskets to make it 36-31 Troy.

Dughi ended the run with a bucket, but Troy started another with seven more unanswered points.

Parks and Andrews both hit free throws sandwiched around a Parks 3-pointer for a 10-point lead.

Lillie Maynard came back with a runner, but Andrews had the final say of the quarter with a 3-ball for the 11-point lead going into the final frame.

A pair of Mallorie Maynard free throws got the lead back down to nine points for the Panthers, but an Andrews 3-ball followed by a Seeley lay-up pushed Troy’s advantage to 51-37.

NEB had one last spurt to get the deficit back to single digits as Mallorie Maynard had a lay-up, then four VandeMark for a 3-pointer for a 51-42 score.

The Panthers wouldn’t score after that as Renzi hit a 3-ball followed by a pair of freebies from Parks, and a lay-up out of Sterling to finish out the game. 

“I just thought that we had to move the ball a little better,” Miller said about their slow start. “Move the ball, find the open girl, attack the basket, and kick. I think that’s exactly what we did there in the second half, and, really the difference was that we hit shots. Once we see one go through, our confidence builds from there.”

Both teams move on district play, NEB sooner, and Troy later.

The Panthers will likely host a playoff game on Tuesday with a foe to be determined.

They’re plenty motivated to get back to the district title game this year, and this time come out with the win.

Beebe hopes that games like the last two will help prepare them for a tough Class AA bracket.

“It’s great, two games in two nights of good basketball can’t hurt,” he said. “Two Class AAA teams, so now, hopefully, we can move on to what we have to do.”

Troy will also have a home game against a foe yet to be determined, while a first round win next week guarantees them a place in the state tournament.

“We’re going to focus on getting some rest this weekend, but looking at next week playing Mt. Carmel on Friday,” Miller said about the possible match-up. “They’re going to be a very physical team. They play a great man defense. We’re just going to have to be ready to match their physicality, and I think our girls will be ready for that challenge.”

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PHOTOS BY CHRIS MANNING

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