Northern Tier Sports ReportWYALUSING — Early in the fourth it looked like Wyalusing was going to edge Towanda again, but the Knights went on a 12-2 run to end the game and pull out the 52-48 win over the Rams in NTL girls’ hoops action Friday.
“It was another classic Towanda Wyalusing game as both teams left it all out on the floor,” said Towanda coach Rob Gentile. “I told the kids before the game it was going to come down to pride tonight and I think both teams played with a lot of pride. We also talked about runs and I told them the team that has the last run would probably win the game. Fortunately, we made the final run.”
Brynn Woodruff had 16 points to lead Towanda as Payton Perry scored 12. Karis Flynn added eight, Mya Maynard netted seven, with Mary-Kate Eberlin finishing with five.
Reese Sullivan, and Kennedy Heyer had two points each.
“I am super proud of our effort tonight and the no quit mentality of this team,” Gentile said. “It was a great win for our young kids! They show improvement every time out.”
Chloe Bennett led Wyalusing with 18 points as Alysha Botts notched 14. Rachel Wilson finished with six, Emily Fowler, and Emily Johns had four points apiece, with Treanna Nickeson scoring two.
Wyalusing hit three 3-balls to start the game - two by Bennett - to take a 12-10 lead at the first horn.
Towanda rallied with three 3-pointers of their own in the second - two by Flynn - as they pulled past Wyalusing for a 25-22 lead at the half.
The two teams were nearly even in the third, with Towanda out scoring the Rams 13-12 behind five points from Perry, while Botts had five for the Rams.
They would trade baskets to start the fourth, but then the Rams went on a 10-0 run, kick started by a Wilson bucket. Bennett then hit a 3-ball, followed by a lay-up to go up 43-40.
Botts would make it 46-40 with a 3-ball of her own, forcing Towanda to regroup with a time-out.
Flynn broke the streak with a basket, followed by Maynard scoring to cut it to 46-44.
Sullivan then tied the game with a bucket, with Woodruff giving them the go ahead basket, 48-40, with 2:34 left to play.
Perry would hit a 3-ball with 1:21 left to play for a 5-point lead.
Bennett cut it to a 1-score game with 44 seconds to play. Late in the game she got a steal and went in for a lay-up, but Towanda’s defense recovered.
After that they went Maynard to the line, who made 1-of-2 for the 4-point win.
Towanda won the JV game 45-15 as Sullivan scored 20, and Eberlin had 11. Liz Kilmer led Wyalusing with eight points.
Wyalusing (8-6) travels to Williamson on Tuesday, while Towanda (6-7) will look to even up their record as they host NP-Liberty on Monday.
