Hornets Knock Off Athens, Win 1st Home Game Of Season

By: Ed Weaver  /  December 16, 2023  /  Photo: Tim McBride

Wellsboro picked up their first win at home by knocking off Athens 46-33 on Friday, December 15.

"The was the topic of conversation in the locker room," first year head coach Ron Doughtie said. "I thanked the boys for getting that for me against a big school that's coming off a big win themselves. That was a nice bounce back win and I really wanted one at home, so it was good."

The Hornets started the game out by leading 10-5 after the opening quarter, and extended their lead to 23-11 at the half as they outscored the Wildcats 13-6. Wellsboro ran their lead up to 17 points, 34-17, at the end of the third but the Wildcats clawed their way back into the game early in the fourth. Athens got the lead down to as few as 8, but were hit with foul trouble down the stretch that allowed Wellsboro push the lead back up to 13 at the end of the game.

Wellsboro did get into foul trouble early, forcing Coach Doughtie to go to his bench.

"We changed our starting lineup tonight and put Aaron in there and to have Ian off the bench, I didn't think we'd need him quite like we did right away. It makes me look like a genius, but I don't think that's the case, it was dumb luck, but that's the best Ian's played so far this season. He played physical and answered the bell."

Senior Caden Smith led all scorers with 18 points and sophomore Luke Rothermel backed him up with 11. Senior Ian Hoose added 7 points off the bench, senior Hayes Campbell scored 5, sophomore Aaron Kirk and junior Mitchel Lechler chipped in two points each, and sophomore Marek Mascho added a point. Campbell and Rothermel each grabbed 9 rebounds while Hoose and Smith pulled down five apiece. Smith also added 5 assists and 2 steals and Lechler added 3 rebounds.

"Caden did a good job of taking it to the basket tonight, he also took the outside shots that were there. I told everyone on the team there were a few shots we could've lived without and rolling to the basket more, but more so than the last few games Caden looked to take the ball to the hoop, especially when he beat the press, which is big because you have to punish a team when you break their press."

Connor Mosher and Korey Miller each finished with 14 points for the Wildcats.

Wellsboro held on to win the JV game, 29-27, to improve to 4-1 on the year. Freshman Ethan Keane had 8 points and junior Lucas Cuneo and sophomore Jonathan Carl added 7 points each.

The team is back in action on Wednesday at Towanda.