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The Wellsboro Varsity Boys Basketball team took possession of second place in the NTL Large School Division with a 61-49 win over Athens on Monday, January 16.

After another slow start to the game, that saw Athens jump out to an early 10-4 lead over Wellsboro, the Hornets eventually came alive and went on an 8-2 run to close out the first quarter, tied with the Wildcats at 12-12. The Hornets stepped up their game in the second as they outscored Athens 21-13. Senior Jacob Singer scored 10 of the team’s 21 points in the quarter, off of set shots and fast break away layups on steals, to put Wellsboro in control of the ball game with a 33-25 halftime lead.

Athens closed the gap in the third, outscoring Wellsboro 14-13, but Wellsboro’s fast-paced offense and high-pressure defense eventually wore down the Wildcats and got them into foul trouble once the fourth quarter started. Wellsboro made only 2 baskets the entire fourth quarter, but were carried by their foul shooting.

As a team Wellsboro hit 11-of-16 shots in the fourth quarter alone, 16-for-24 (0.667) for the game, to seal the win. Senior Brandon Lamphier went 5-of-6, Singer was 2-of-4, and junior Dalton Prough was 4-of-4 in the final minutes to wrap up the team’s third consecutive win.

“Coach Chase Kriner told the kids last year it would’ve been 50-50 about how the kids would’ve finished that game as to whether we would’ve pulled it out or not,” said head coach Todd Outman. “This year these guys are really believing and when times get tough they just find a way to get the job done and they did that again tonight.”

Singer led all scorers with 18 points on the night, Lamphier scored 13 with 4 rebounds, and Prough finished with 11. Junior Collin Pietropola added 8 points, junior Nic Ingerick scored 4, sophomore Andrew Brelo had 3, and junior Quinn Henry and senior Alden Weiner each had 2. Prough added 8 rebounds, Singer and Pietropola grabbed 5 each, and Henry finished with 3 assists.

Gavin Stein led Athens with 17 points, Ethan Lane had 15, and Daniel Joyce scored 10.

Wellsboro won the JV game 61-30 to improve to 11-1 on the year. Sophomore Holden Kennedy scored 14 and freshman Billy Lechler added 12 off the bench.

The win improves the Hornets’ record to 11-3 overall (8-1 NTL). The team will be back in action on Wednesday, January 18 at Sayre.