Hornets blow 14 point lead to Towanda

By: Ed Weaver  /  February 5, 2015

The Wellsboro Varsity Boys Basketball team had a 14 point halftime lead slip through their fingers as they lost 42-39 on Wednesday, February 4.

Wellsboro came out firing on all cylinders early and held a 12-11 first quarter lead before they turned the heat up in the second quarter. The Hornet defense held Towanda to three points in the second quarter and built a 28-14 lead at the half.

The second half was all Towanda, however, as the Black Knights' full-court press flustered the Hornets and created numerous turnovers. It wasn't long before Towanda worked their way back into the game, as their outside shots started falling. Before long, Wellsboro's 14 point lead vanished and Towanda only trailed by two.

Towanda would outscore Wellsboro 18-5 in the third and then 10-6 in the fourth to claim the win. Wellsboro did have a chance for the win at the end, but Senior Michael Pietropola's three was off the mark.

Senior Kieron Smethers led the Hornets with 13 points while Pietropola was second with nine. Junior Dawson Prough finished with seven points, Senior Jake Mitchell pitched in five, Sophomore Brandon Lamphier had three, and Freshman Quinn Henry finished with two points.

In the JV game, the Hornets won 47-22. Sophomore Bryon Callahan was the leading scorer with eight points to improve the team's record to 12-6.

With the loss, the Varsity team falls to 15-5 (6-2 NTL Division 1). The team will be back in action on Friday, February 6 as they travel to Mansfield.