Hornets fall to Neumann in final regular season game

By: Ed Weaver  /  February 14, 2017

The Wellsboro Varsity Boys Basketball team lost 61-48 to undefeated St. John Neumann in their final regular season game on Monday, February 13.

The Hornets managed to take an early lead as seniors Jacob Singer and Brandon Lamphier combined for 3 three-pointers, but Neumann battled back to take a 15-13 lead after the opening quarter.

Wellsboro continued to play tough in the second as they outscored Neumann 11-10. Trailing by three late in the quarter, junior Collin Pietropola sealed his defender and put the ball up and in with 1.6 seconds remaining to pull the Hornets to within 25-24 at halftime.

Neumann controlled the third quarter as they outscored Wellsboro 20-6. Neumann's Kevin Anderson and Andrew Fish led the way with 7 points each to swing the game in their favor and lead 45-30 heading into the final frame. Wellsboro managed to get the score to 7 points midway through the fourth on three's from Lamphier and junior Quinn Henry, but Neumann hit 8-of-10 foul shots down the stretch to win their 89th consecutive regular season game.

"They played really well. They beat us up and down the floor a little bit," said head coach Todd Outman. "We knew they were a good team, they're ranked #2 in the state in Class A but it was a good game for us going into Districts. It showed a lot of our weaknesses that we have at least a week to work on to try and make us better and make a run at Districts."

Anderson finished with a game-high 27 and Jaiden Cioffi added 15.

Junior Dalton Prough had 12 points to lead Wellsboro, Lamphier and Pietropola finished with 10 points each, Henry scored 8, Singer had 6, and sophomore Brandyn Tuttle 2. Lamphier had 3 rebounds and 3 assists, Singer grabbed 2 rebounds and blocked a shot, and Prough finished with 5 rebounds. Henry recorded 3 assists, Tuttle grabbed 3 rebounds, and Pietropola made 3 steals.

The JV team ended the season on a high note in a 52-27 to finish the season with a two-game win streak and 17-3 overall under coach Chase Kriner (133-60). Sophomore Holden Kennedy led the Hornets with 13 and sophomore Andrew Brelo dropped 10.

The loss ends Wellsboro’s regular season at 20-4 and the team will wait for their opponent for District IV playoffs.