Hornets fend off Wyalusing for 4th straight win

By: Ed Weaver  /  January 29, 2021  /  Photo: Jill Gastrock

After a furious, 22-point 4th quarter comeback by Wyalusing, the Wellsboro Varsity Boys Basketball team fended off the visiting Rams to pick up a 52-44 win on Thursday, January 28.

"If you would've toldme last night that you're going to beat Wyalusing by 8 tomorrow night I'd be thrilled with that," said Hornet head coach Steve Adams. "They made a couple really long-range three-pointers and we stopped the clock a couple times on fouls and they got some 'and-one's,' which is all stuff we can learn from, but we really played a great defensive ball game. We held them under 50. You hold a team to under 50 points you got a chance to beat them."

The Hornets got off to a fast start, leading 11-2 after the first quarter, then extended their lead to 27-12 at halftime by outscoring Wyalusing 16-10. The Hornets' held their 15-point lead (37-22) after both teams scored 10 points following the intermission, but the 4th and final quarter was when the Rams came alive.

The Rams outscored Wellsboro 22-15 down the stretch as they hit four key three-pointers. The Rams cut the Hornets' lead down to 5, but as Wyalusing fouled to kill the clock and extend the game, the Hornets were able to ice it at the end from the foul line.

Junior Liam Manning scored 15 points and grabbed 13 rebounds for his 4th double-double of the season. Junior Darryn Callahan scored 13, sophomore Conner Adams pitched in 11, junior Isaac Keane had 8 points, with 6 of them coming in the fourth quarter, and sophomore Peyton McClure rounded out the scoring with 5 points. Keane and Callahan both added 7 rebounds to their point totals, and Adams and McClure grabbed 3 rebounds each.

"Everyone played their rolls tonight," continued Adams. "Conner shut down Gradyen Cobb, who's averaging about 14 points a game and Darryn shut down Isaiah Way, who's averaging 17. Isaac made some key free throws down the stretch which was big for us and Peyton hit a couple key shots. They were throwing everything at Liam, he handled it well, and he's seen everyone's best each night. The thing about this team is that we have weapons, and if you take something away one of the other guys is doing what they need to do. It's been a lot of fun watching them play that way."

In the JV game the Hornets won 32-22 to remain undefeated at 5-0. Sophomore Cameron Brought led the Hornets with 15 points.

The win improves the Hornets' record to 4-1 overall (4-1 NTL Large School Division). The team joins the Lady Hornets on the road for a double-header at Cowanesque Valley on Saturday afternoon. The boys start at 12:00 p.m. followed by the girls game at 3:00 p.m.