Middle School Hornets top Mansfield

By: Ed Weaver  /  December 19, 2019

The Wellsboro Middle School Basketball teams each scored a pair of wins over rival North Penn-Mansfield on Wednesday, December 18.

In the girls game, Wellsboro pulled off a 4th quarter rally to win 16-13. Wellsboro trailed 11-9 after the third quarter, and trailed the whole game until the last minute, when Maddy Mascho took a steal all the way to go up one, then finished a side-out inbound play to put us up by 3.

"We were up against it all night against an athletic Mansfield team, with us a player short to start, and some girls not feeling 100%," head coach Darrell Morris said. "Our girls stayed close, then closed out the game at the end. We have worked on a late play all year in practice and the girls ran it well, with Maddy finishing with the layup to seal it. She really carried us tonight going 7-for-10 at the line and then getting the game winner and another score after. Our captain led tonight for sure. Also it was exciting for our girls to beat the only two teams to beat us this year the 2nd time we played them (Athens and Mansfield)."

Mascho had 11 points, 7 rebounds, and 1 steal, Paige Logsdon (3 rebounds) and Emily Richardson (2 rebounds, 2 steals, and 1 assist) each had 2 points, Olivia Chilson added 1 point, 2 rebounds, and 1 steal, Emily Morris had 4 rebounds and 1 steal, Emily Pierce and Hannah Gilmour added 1 rebound each, and Hannalee Cleveland had 1 assist.

Mansfield won the B game 16-8. Emily Pierce had 6 points and Raegan Bourrett had 2 points.

In the boys game, Wellsboro also topped Mansfield 48-31 to also avenge an earlier season loss. The Hornets jumped out to an early 13-4 lead after the first and led 21-11 at halftime. The young Hornets then extended the lead in the third quarter by outscoring the Tigers 19-9 and made a few key baskets in the fourth quarter to secure the victory.

"Tonight was a total team win by the boys," said head coach Kyle Smith. "I am very happy for them to get this victory against a really good team. We had some up-and-down moments this season, but finishing the year with a win like that against an undefeated team is a reminder that hard work and a never-quit attitude will pay off if you stick to the plan long enough. I'm proud of the effort and pleased with the successful season the boys had."

The Hornets finish the season with an 11-4 record.

Hayes Campbell led the hornets with 16 points, Caden Smith scored 11 points, Tyler Youells scored 8 points, Carter Knowlton added 6 points, Julian Mann scored 3, Watson Feil scored 2 points and Ian Hoose scored 2 points.

The Hornet B team also won 34-18 and finished the season with a 9-6 record. Micaiah Fitch scored 13 points to lead the hornets, Mitchell Lechler scored 5, Logan Rogers, E.J. Keck and Owen Stevens each scored 4 points, Micah Vickery scored 2 points and Davin Boyden added 2 points.

The Lady Hornets will be back in action on Saturday, December 21 against North Penn-Liberty.