Hornets rally to beat Montoursville

By: Ed Weaver  /  December 14, 2014

The Wellsboro Varsity Boys Basketball team rallied from a halftime deficit to beat Montoursville 56-48 on Saturday, December 13.

The Hornets held a 16-10 advantage after the first quarter but found themselves trailing 29-27 at halftime, the first time of the year, after Montoursville caught fire from behind the three-point line. Montoursville saw their lead slip away in the third quarter after the Wellsboro defense turned up the pressure to limit them to only eight points.

"Montoursville shot the ball really well in the second quarter and I just told the kids to keep doing what we've been doing and making sure we box out a little better I didn't think they would keep shooting that well and they didn't," said head coach Todd Outman. "I told the kids that it was gut-check time and we can continue to play with no intensity and allow them to keep scoring on us or we can find some intensity and take charge of this game in front of the home crowd. We were playing flat and that should never happen on your home court."

Senior Michael Pietropola scored 10 of his game-high 30 points in the third quarter to help the Hornets regain the lead and finish out the game for their third consecutive win and their second in two days. Through three games Pietropola has averaged 24 points and fellow Senior Kieron Smethers has averaged 11 points and 13 rebounds. According to Outman, the play of his two Senior captains has helped take the pressure off the Hornets younger players.

"I knew for us to have a decent year that we would have to have a lot from those two," explained Outman. "Dawson is in a little injury trouble and when he comes back to full strength we'll be that much better. But with the young kids like this Michael and Kieron's leadership is crucial and they're doing a fantastic job."

Smethers finished with seven points as he went 7-for-11 from the foul line. Junior Dawson Prough was the only other Hornet in double figures besides Pietropola as he dropped 12 points. Sophomore Alden Weiner rounded out the scoring with seven points off the bench.

In the JV game the Hornets 47-34 to improve to 2-0 on the year. Freshman Quinn Henry scored 11 and Freshman Dalton Prough had 10 to lead the team.

With the win the Hornets improve to 3-0 and will look to go 4-0 when they host Canton on Tuesday, December 16.