BY CHRIS MANNINGNorthern Tier Sports Report
WYALUSING — Troy’s Trey Teribury got a steal to start the second half, then took it down the court for a dunk, which set the tone for the Trojan third quarter as they turned a close game into a comfortable win during their 71-49 win over Wyalusing in NTL boys’ hoops action Saturday.
The Trojans were nursing a 32-29 lead at the half, then went off for 28 points to build a 20-point lead going into the fourth.
“We’ve learned some lessons, hopefully, over the last couple of games, and today,” said Troy coach Craig Sheeley. “Really sharing it with all 10 hands, and really making an emphasis of that in practice the last few days.”
He said they focused on the little things at halftime as they looked to get some separation in the third quarter.
“Giving (Wyalusing) nothing easy, not getting out of position defensively, and all just the small things that it takes to win a game, and really stepping on them there in that third quarter,” remarked Sheeley.
For Wyalusing coach Brent Keyes it was a bit of a let down after the week his young had had. They had two narrow losses on the road leading up to their return home after almost more than a month, but weren’t able to get much going.
“Credit to Troy,” said Keyes. “Talking with Craig after, they played really well today, and maybe one of their best games that they’ve had for the year - they’re young, they’re getting better, we knew they would. I’m just incredibly disappointed, we were so disorganized at times, and we just played two unbelievable games this week where we were organized from start to finish. Not always perfect, not always pretty, but organized, and we were so disorganized today. I’m just incredibly disappointed in our effort.”
For Troy, freshman Josiah Pesesky had 15 points, four boards, and two blocks to lead the way, as Trey Teribury netted 14 points, with four rebounds, and two steals.
Cameron Morey had 11 points, and four boards, while Spencer Martin notched seven points, five assists, five rebounds, and two steals.
Evan Allen chipped in with seven points, as Aiden Lawrence finished with six points.
Landon Cole, and James Roy had four points each, with Pryor Teribury adding three points, and four rebounds.
Tyler Caplan had 18 points to lead Wyalusing, as Noah Kilmer, and Aidan Neiley each had six.
Parker Cunningham notched five, with Jared VandeMark adding four. Mason Culver, and Cam Cole had three points each, while Shay Gartland, and Myles Kershner both finished with two.
It was a back and forth game at the start, with Cunningham hitting a jumper to give the Rams an early lead.
Martin came back with a 3-ball, followed by a Pesesky free throw to make it 4-2 Trojans.
A pair of Kershner free throws tied things up.
Troy responded by going on a 5-0 run behind a Trey lay-up, a Lawrence free throw, and bucket.
Cunningham ended that run with a 3-ball, only for Troy to go on a 3-0 spurt behind a Pesesky bucket, followed by a Lawrence freebie.
Wyalusing used the deep ball again to gain ground, this time from Cole, then they tied it up with a Neiley basket.
Pesesky broke the 12-12 tie with a pair of free throws, but a Caplan bucket made it 14-14.
An Allen freebie gave Troy a 15-14 lead at the first horn.
Wyalusing surged ahead to start the second as VandeMark hit a free throw, followed by a Gartland lay-up to make it 17-15.
Troy answered with a 6-0 run - two buckets by Pesesky, one from Lawrence - to make it 21-17.
A Kilmer 3-ball cut the lead to one, only for Troy to go on another 6-0 spurt - this time with one bucket from Cole, and two by Morey for a 27-20 lead.
A Neiley basket ended that run, only for Troy to go on a 3-0 spurt for 30-22 lead.
That’s when the Rams rallied again, out scoring Troy 7-2 down the stretch of the quarter.
Caplan had two buckets while Culver hit a 3-ball to make it a 3-point game at the half.
Troy opened the second half on a 7-0 run. After Trey’s dunk Allen, and Pesesky got buckets, followed by a Trey free throw for a 39-29 lead.
Caplan cut it back to a single digit deficit with a put back, but back to back buckets by Allen extended the lead to 43-31.
A Kilmer 3-ball cut it to 43-34, but Pesesky answered with a 3-ball of his own, followed by a Spencer bucket to make it 48-34.
Back to back Caplan baskets made it a 10-point game again, but Troy got hot late in the quarter, hitting four 3-balls during a 12-2 run to give them the 20-point cushion going into the fourth.
Trey had two of the deep balls, while Pesesky, and Pryor each had one.
The Rams cut it to an 18-point deficit early off a Caplan bucket but a 5-0 run by Troy reestablished themselves.
Wyalusing tried to get going again with back to back Caplan baskets in the middle of the quarter, but Troy followed with a 4-0 run of their own secure the win.
Wyalusing (3-6) will host Athens on Tuesday as they look to break their 3-game losing streak.
“We’ve got some things we’re trying to figure out,” Keyes said. “We’ve got some different line-ups, we have some kids that are playing different minutes than they’re used to playing, or just with different guys than they’ve been used to playing with, and that clearly showed. We expect to compete every tonight in this league, and for us to be so close to winning all week, and then not getting it done, and then to come in here today, and to let Troy do that to us - we have a lot to figure out, we’re going to figure it out, and we’re going to work really hard to do so.”
Troy (6-5) welcomes Wellsboro on Tuesday followed by back to back games against NP-Mansfield.
Sheeley’s hoping the experience will help them get off to better starts.
“Overall shot selection when we start, we get a little panicky at times, but the starts need to be working,” he said. “But the main thing for us is sharing the ball. I think that’s our biggest takeaway.”
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PHOTOS BY CHRIS MANNING
