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When you talk about rivalries in the NTL, the conversation begins and ends with North-Penn Mansfield and Wellsboro. We were treated to our second installment this season on Wednesday February 1st, when the Hornets traveled to Mansfield to take on the Tigers. The game did not disappoint.

The Hornets struck first with a bucket from Colin Pietropola. But the Tigers wasted no time in responding with back to back jumpers from Joel Whittecker. Midway through the first quarter Brock Burleigh would finish a layup inside and draw the foul, especially significant because it was Dalton Prough’s second foul. Wellsboro quickly regrouped and showcased their balance, with five players scoring in the first quarter, and took a 20-12 first quarter lead.
The Tigers defense clamped down in the second, holding Wellsboro scoreless for the first 6 minutes of the second quarter. While their defense was in lockdown mode, the Tigers offense began to find a groove. Whittecker found an open Nick Kasper on an inbounds play, and Kasper knocked down a three to pull the Tigers within 3. It wasn’t long before Burleigh scored a bucket inside to give the Tigers a 1 point lead with 2:50 left in the half. But Dalton Prough returned to the game and scored on a putback to end the Hornets drought. Prough then gave the Hornets a 1 point lead on a floater in the closing seconds, heading to the locker room ahead 24-23.

With 7:00 left in the third quarter North-Penn Mansfield senior Brock Burleigh achieved a milestone when he scored his 1,000th career point on a basket in the paint. The game was briefly halted so Brock could enjoy the moment with teammates, coaches, and fans.

Wellsboro briefly lost the lead, but got back on top with a Brandon Lamphier dish to Pietropola. Then Lamphier beat the defense off the dribble and got to the rim for the finish, and the foul; pushing the Hornet lead to five. Alden Weiner would add a three-pointer at the buzzer of the third to give Wellsboro a 40-32 lead.

Shane Kelly (North-Penn Mansfield) and Quinn Henry (Wellsboro) would duel throughout most of the fourth quarter, scoring 9 and 11 points respectively in the quarter. Wellsboro’s lead would reach as much as 10, but the Tigers wouldn’t go away. And a North-Penn Mansfield vs. Wellsboro game wouldn’t be complete without some late game drama. In the final minutes Kasper hit a three-pointer to cut the deficit to 5 for the Tigers. But the Hornets came back on their very next possession and scored on basket from Prough to go up by 7. The Tigers responded again, this time with a Konnor Manikowski three-pointer. The Tigers were forced to foul in the closing moments, and Wellsboro made enough free throws to secure the victory 57-49.

Wellsboro was led by Quinn Henry with 16 points. Collin Pietropola scored 13, and Dalton Prough finished with 10.
Brock Burleigh led the way for North-Penn Mansfield with 14 points, and Shane Kelly added 11 points.