BY CHRIS MANNINGNorthern Tier Sports Report
ELMIRA, N.Y. — Last year at this time Towanda was going through the low point of their season. Now their walking away from the Josh Palmer Fund Tournament bracket champions, beating Johnson City, 41-34, in the girls’ regional bracket Tuesday.
“We were a little overmatched last year,” said Towanda coach Rob Gentile. “When we got into this tournament I told them we probably weren’t at a competitive level now, but I knew that we would be at some point. We lost the consolation game to this team a year ago by 20, so it’s just a good feeling to come out, and play our style of basketball.”
Their style won out on the Wildcats as Towanda went 10-deep while Johnson City mostly stuck with their starters. JC led by 10 at one point in the first half but saw that lead cut to four by the break.
The Black Knights nabbed their first lead, 23-22, with 5:34 left in the third and slowly pulled away from there.
“We tell the kids all the time, we have to compete for four quarters,” Gentile said. “That’s our advantage. It’s not always pretty, but I’m really proud of the kids for just believing in what we do, and continue to just compete. Eventually, the shots just started to fall, and we got on a good little run, but that’s a pretty good team.”
Brynn Woodruff was named tournament MVP with 17 points, six boards, two blocks, and two steals, including fourth quarter 3-balls that were Towanda’s only field goals in the final frame.
“It feels good,” Woodruff said about getting the MVP. “All my team has helped me get to this point, so it’s nice.”
Payton Perry, who was recognized as the ‘BSN Heart of the Game Award’ winner, finished with nine points, and four steals, as May Maynard grabbed her 500th career rebound, nabbing nine caroms in the game, while scoring two points and getting two steals.
Karis Flynn notched six points, Ali Hollett, the sixth player of the tournament, finished with three, while Reese Sullivan, and Taylor Aquilio each had two points.
Defensively, Towanda finished with 18 steals on the day as Mary-Kate Eberlin, Sullivan, Aquilio, and Kennedy Heyer each had two steals.
“I feel like everybody has contributed so well,” Woodruff said. “We’re actually coming together, and really showing how good of a team we are.”
It was 15-10 after one quarter, and it looked like Johnson City might run away with it after they took a 20-10 lead early in the second.
However, the Knights started to get some shots to fall - Woodruff had three field goals for six points - and they ultimately out scored the Wildcats 8-7 in the frame.
“We’re down 10 early, and we were having trouble scoring the ball,” said Gentile. “We just kept telling them, ‘guys, you know they’ve got to do this for four quarters with five or six kids. Our advantage is in the second half, we just have to stay connected until halftime, and then we’ll make our run.’ That’s what we’ve been able to do recently.”
The Knights tightened the defense, holding Johnson City to five points in the third, while they found their stroke from deep, nailing three 3-balls - two by Flynn - to take a 31-27 lead into the fourth quarter.
The Wildcats had cut it to 28-27 when Hollett hit a late 3-ball for the 4-point lead.
“We just wanted to push, push, push, and work together,” said Woodruff. “Just keep doing what we do, knowing that we can wear the other team out.”
Woodruff hit a 3-pointer early in the quarter to make it a 7-point game, then added another with just over four minutes left for a 37-32 contest.
From there it was about making free throws, and Towanda went 4-for-6 down the stretch.
Towanda (7-1) will host Williamsport on Saturday with a 2 p.m. start, then welcomes Troy for a big divisional tilt to start next week.
“Troy is going to be a great battle,” said Gentile. “I have a lot of respect for that team, that program, those kids. They’re tough kids, they’re used to winning. I expect an outstanding ware between two pretty good teams.”
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PHOTOS BY CHRIS MANNING
