NTL BOYS BASKETBALL: SAYRE KNOCKS OFF CANTON, 60-52 (17 PHOTOS) (2020-01-17)
Valley Sports ReportSAYRE "” First-year Sayre coach Devin Shaw saw a new-found passion in his team, and it paid dividends in a 60-52 win over Canton here Friday night in NTL Small School Division boys basketball action.
"I was talking to the team before the game about not only playing with great effort, but having some passion as well," said Shaw. "They did that and things started to go well for us.
"The guys played hard and were having fun at the same time," he noted. "When things are going well, you start having fun and get energy and more good things happen.
"It's a contagious atmosphere and the whole team started to pick up on it," Shaw added. "I think that was the difference tonight."
Junior Zach Moore canned a pair of 3-pointers in the first quarter, and Matt Lane added a 3-pointer and five points, but Isaiah Niemczyk scored 10 points, including a pair of 3-pointers, as the team battled to a 15-15 tie after the first eight minutes.
Senior Corbin Brown scored six points in the second quarter to spark a 15-7 Redskin run that put them ahead 30-22 at the half.
Juniors Matt Lane and Connor Young scored five points apiece in the third quarter as Sayre increased its lead to 10 points, at 46-36, entering the final eight minutes.
The Warriors trimmed the deficit to five points with 1 1/2 minutes remaining, but the Redskins made 4 of 6 free throws down the stretch to seal the victory.
Lane and Brown led Sayre with 16 points apiece, while Young scored nine, Moore added eight points, and sophomore Dom Fabbri and freshman Lucas Horton chipped in with four points apiece.
Shaw noted the play of a few of his players.
"Connor Young played strong in the post against (6-7 Ben) Knapp, who is a very tough kid.
"Matt Lane did a very good job being a leader tonight and taking charge of the team," said Shaw. "And, Corbin Brown had a very good overall game tonight with strong rebounding and attacking and scoring at the rim tonight, while also knocking down some FT's.
"It was a very good overall performance tonight for our team," added Shaw.
Niemcxyk led Canton with 15 points, while Cooper Kitchen scored 12 points, and Knapp added eight.
Sayre, now 6-6, hosts North Penn-Liberty Tuesday.
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IN PHOTO 1: Sayre's Corbin Brown. ... PHOTOS COURTESY OF DAVID ALLIGER - TRAVELING PORTRAITS PHOTOGRAPHY.
https://travelingportraits.smugmug.com/
