Monster Second Quarter Leads Hornets Past Wildcats

By: Ed Weaver  /  January 27, 2023  /  Photo: Lance Larcom/ntwsportsreport.com

After trailing 16-10 from the opening quarter, the Wellsboro Hornets put up a monster second quarter to defeat the Athens Wildcats 56-36, on Thursday, January 26, for the second time in five days.

The Wildcats started out the game taking a quick 5-0 lead just over 90 seconds into the game before the Hornets got on the scoreboard on a basket by senior Cameron Brought. Athens led 7-5 midway through the quarter until senior Peyton McClure drained a three with 2:28 to play, tying the game at 10-all. Athens would extend the lead to 16-10 as the first quarter came to and end.

The second quarter was all Wellsboro, however, as they went on a 26-1 run. Welsboro cut the lead to 16-12 to open the quarter as junior Caden Smith found Brought wide open for a layup, followed by McClure's second three-pointer of the evening, the Hornets trailed 16-15. With 4:53 remaining McClure deflected a pass, came up with the steal and finished at the other end of the court, giving the Hornets their first lead at 17-16. The Hornets kept pouring in the points, due the Wildcats getting in severe foul trouble, to build up a 36-17 lead at halftime.

"The second quarter set the tone for us for the rest of the game," Hornet head coach Steve Adams said. "Our guys did a nice job, we were down six at the end of the first, we had some looks but they just didn't go in. We didn't panic but kept our composure, and that was the key to the ball game. We tried to give them some different looks defensively between man and zone because they have weapons and we had to be ready for everyone they put on the floor. We did a nice job of limiting them to one shot after the first quarter. Right now we're in the thick of things in the league so the the guys are up for every game right now, which is good for a coach because we know they'll give us everything they have each night."

After the intermission Wellsboro held Athens to just 8 points, increasing their lead to 46-25.

Three Hornets finished in double figures on the night, led by senior Conner Adams' season-high 20 points. McClure finished with 15 and Brought added a double-double of 13 points and 12 rebounds. Junior Hayes Campbell added 4 points, 7 boards and a blocked shot, and Smith and junior Ian Hoose rounded out the scoring with two points apiece. Adams added 7 assists and 4 steals, Smith made 3 assists, and Hoose grabbed three rebounds.

In the JV game the Wildcats beat Wellsboro 44-32. Jase Babcock and Davin Spencer finished with 8 points each to lead Athens. Freshman Jonathan Carl led the Hornets with 13 points and freshman Aaron Kirk pitched in 7 points.

The win improves the Hornets' record to 11-4 (9-1 NTL Large School Division). They currently sit 2nd overall behind North Penn-Mansfield in the Large School Division standings with just one league loss, locking them into the NTL Showdown at the moment.

"Our goal is till to try and capture a league title. We have CV Saturday, Towanda and their place next week and Mansfield a week from tonight, so we're hoping we can get the next two and make next Thursday's game relevant," concluded Adams.

The team is back in action on Saturday afternoon at Cowanesque Valley.