Hornets top Towanda to win NTL Showdown

By: Ed Weaver  /  February 16, 2014

The third meeting was the charm as Wellsboro knocked off Towanda to win the NTL boys basketball title for the 2013-14 season with a 56-47 victory.

The Hornets trailed 16-13 after the first quarter, but slowly chipped away at Towanda's lead. The first lead for the Hornets came at 4:48 in the second quarter as Junior Michael Pietropola hit a pair of free throws to put Wellsboro up 21-19. The Hornets outscored Towanda 12-7 in the second to take a 25-23 lead at the half.

The Hornets started the third quarter with a 7-0 run and eventually held a 39-30 lead after a jumper shot by Senior Joey Doganiero.

The fourth quarter was all Wellsboro as the Hornets forced Towanda to settle for outside jump shots. Towanda failed to find a rhythm offensively and finished the game shooting 6-for-36 from three-point range.

Pietropola led four Hornets in double figures with 15 points. Doganiero and Senior Dylan Prough each had 11 points, Junior Kieron Smethers had his second straight double-double with 10 points and 17 rebounds, Sophomore Dawson Prough finished with 8 points, and Junior Jake Mitchell finished with one.

The win improves the Hornets' season record to 19-5 (8-2 NTL Division 1). The team will begin District IV play next week.