Hornets top rival Mansfield, bring home Berguson Memorial Trophy

By: Ed Weaver  /  January 12, 2018  /  Photo: The Home Page Network

In the fourth annual matchup of the Margaret "Peg" Berguson Memorial Trophy, the Wellsboro Hornets came out on top, defeating rivals North Penn-Mansfield 62-38 on Thursday, January 11.

After two quick baskets by the Tigers' Garrett David and Nick Kasper the Hornets found themselves trailing 5-0. That didn't phase them, however as Wellsboro caught fire from behind the three-point line, going a perfect 4-of-4 for the quarter. Seniors Dalton Prough and Quinn Henry (2) and junior Brandyn Tuttle all hit from behind the line, giving Wellsboro an opening 20-12 lead.

Once the second quarter started, however, all of the momentum Wellsboro built soon faded.

While the Tigers only hit two field goals, a three from Jacob Green and a layup by David, they were able to get Wellsboro in foul trouble, and out of their offensive rhythm from the first quarter, to put points on the board without the clock moving. Mansfield shot 4-of-8 from the charity stripe in the quarter and slowly crept back into the game.

After the first half ended, Mansfield cuts Wellsboro's lead in half as they trailed 26-21.

"We started out playing really well and shot really well then we went into a little slump," said Hornets' head coach Todd Outman. "We didn't allow us to keep that lead because our defense started falling apart as well. So when you have those slumps, and we talk about this all the time, you gotta be able to play defense and we didn't do a good job of that."

After adjustments at halftime, Wellsboro regained their defensive prowess they've had all year, much to Outman's delight. Wellsboro's defense forced the Tigers into committing nine third-quarter turnovers, that led to a monster Wellsboro run to start the second half.

Right out of the gate Prough took over. After scoring only six points in the first half, he exploded for nine in the quarter. Time and time again Prough drove through the paint to the rim, making three baskets, drawing four fouls, and keying Wellsboro's 22-7 run that put the Tigers back behind the eight ball.

Prough's driving also opened up Wellsboro's outside game as Tuttle drained two more three's putting the Hornets up 48-28.

"We talk all the time about the first three minutes of the second half and getting that run and getting momentum," continued Outman. "We did that tonight."

Once the fourth quarter started, both teams started to get foul happy. Both teams combined to shoot 28 foul shots in the final eight minutes. Despite all the foul shots, the Tigers were unable to claw back out of the hole they dug themselves in the third and pull off the comeback.

"The kids never gave up when it got back to five points at the half," concluded Outman. "I'm proud of them and they're excited about winning that trophy."

For Tigers' head coach Kipper Burleigh it was not the outcome he was hoping for.

"It's really sad to lose the Peg Berguson Memorial Trophy. Peg had four boys, my first year coaching about 15 years ago her oldest was a freshman. I coached him for four years, the next one for four years, the next one for four years, and the next one for four years and we had some special moments. Some NTL championships, some District championships and some nice state tournament runs, so to have a trophy in her honor and be so lucky and priviledged to win it the first three years of its existence. It's sad to see it go, but you have to congratulate Wellsboro. Peg was a teacher at their school and cared about her kids and I know they wanted the trophy really bad. They have a bunch of seniors over there, four seniors starters and they've wanted it for a long time, so it's bittersweet but I'm happy for those guys. They were definitely the better team tonight and they earned it."

Prough led all scorers with 22 points (7-of-14 from the foul line in the second half), 6 rebounds, 2 assists and 3 steals. Tuttle finished with 13 points and 10 rebounds for his eighth double-double this season, and Collin Pietropola scored 10 points, grabbed 6 rebounds and blocked 2 shots.

Henry finished with 9 points, senior Nic Ingerick had 4, junior Holden Kennedy had 2, and junior Hunter Brown and Joseph Grab chipped in with 1 point each. Henry also had 4 rebounds and 4 assists and Brown grabbed 3 rebounds in the final quarter.

David led North Penn-Mansfield with 10 points and 8 rebounds, Brent Burleigh had 8 points and 4 assists, Kasper and Green both finished with 6 points, and Dylan Meyer and Sawyer Freeman both pitched in with 4 points each. Myer also grabbed 7 rebounds.

The win improves the Hornets' record to 11-1 (8-0 NTL Large School Division) while the Tigers fall to 7-5 (7-1 NTL Large School Division). Wellsboro is back in action tonight on the road in Canton while North Penn-Mansfield travels to North Penn-Liberty on Saturday, January 13.