Hornets Drop Low-Scoring Game To Athens

By: Ed Weaver  /  January 16, 2026

Two days after rallying to defeat Troy, the Wellsboro Varsity Boys Basketball team dropped an NTL Large School Division home game to Athens, 40-27, Thursday night.

Both teams struggled offensively in the game as neither team produced double-digit scoring quarters until the final frame.

Athens held a 6-5 lead after the opening quarter. Both teams combined for just three field goals in the opening eight minutes. A 9-6 run in the 2nd increased the Wildcats' lead to 15-11 at the half. They backed their nine-point quarter in the 3rd, while holding Wellsboro to just four points, pushing the lead to 24-15.

As both team's offenses heated up in the 4th, the Wildcats outscored the Hornets 16-12.

Senior Jonathan Carl led Wellsboro with 9 points while senior Luke Rothermel added 6 points. Junior Colin Fletcher, sophomores Ransom Schultz and RJ Doughtie, and freshman James Doughtie all scored two points apiece and junior Gideon Lawton, sophomores Griffin Morral and Kody Enck, and senior Marek Mascho each contributed one point each.

Rothermel pulled down 10 rebounds and blocked two shots, Carl finished with 13 boards and 3 steals, and Schultz had 5 rebounds and blocked a shot.

Nick Grazul (16) and James Friend (11) led the Wildcats in the win.

In the JV game the Hornets kept their perfect record intact with a 40-33 win, improving to 12-0. Freshman Braylen Jessup led all scorers with 20 points.

The loss drops Wellsboro to 6-6 (5-3 NTL Large School Division). The team is back in action Saturday against St. John Neumann.