Pietropola shot sinks Mansfield

By: Ed Weaver  /  February 7, 2015

An acrobatic, circus shot from Senior Michael Pietropola with time expiring propelled the Wellsboro Varsity Boys Basketball team to a 50-49 win over Mansfield on Friday, February 6.

Last night's game, like most Wellsboro-Mansfield games, came down to the final seconds. After Chandler Correll hit a wide-open layup to put the Tigers up 49-48, all looked lost for Wellsboro. Junior Dawson Prough took the inbounds pass and pushed the ball up the court, splitting two Mansfield defenders as he found Pietropola in the corner. Pietropola then dribbled towards the basket, was fenced in by three Tiger defenders, but he spun and threw up a prayer that went through the bottom of the net after bouncing off the backboard and rim, to give the Hornets the NTL Division 1 victory.

The game was exciting from beginning to end as held 14-8 lead as Bo Burleigh scored eight of the team's points. Wellsboro was unfased, however, and came out fighting in the second. Wellsboro's offense came alive as they outscored Mansfield 22-14 to give them a 30-28 lead.

Wellsboro kept the lead in the third quarter, as they again outscored Mansfield. Entering the fourth quarter, Wellsboro led 39-36 and it was back and forth for the remaining eight minutes. Wellsboro held on to a one-point lead for the majority of the quarter until Mansfield took the lead with under 20 seconds left.

Pietropola finished with a game-high 19 points and set a new career record for three-pointers made with 158 as he went 3-for-7 from behind the line. Prough finished with 13 points, Senior Kieron Smethers pitched in 12 points and 14 rebounds, Senior Jake Mitchell had four, and Freshman Quinn Henry scored two.

The win also set another milestone in Wellsboro basketball history. Head Coach Todd Outman recorded his 100th career win leading the Green and White. Outman is only the third head coach Wellsboro has had since the early 1970's, and each coach has won over 100 games. WellsboroAthletics.com would like to congratulate Coach Outman on this accomplishment. Coach Outman will be presented with a memorial basketball in recognition of his 100th win prior to Monday's home Varsity game with South Williamsport.

With the win, the Hornets improve to 16-5 (7-2 NTL Division 1).