SECTION IV GIRLS BASKETBALL: UNION SPRINGS HOLDS OFF TIOGA, 59-54, IN CLASS C OPENER (2020-02-26)

Valley Sports Report
UNION SPRINGS "” Fourth-seeded Union Springs used a strong effort in the middle two quarters to pull out a 59-54 decision over 13th-seed Tioga here Wednesday night in the opening round of the Section IV, Class C girls basketball playoffs.

Juniors Olivia Ayres and Eve Wood each knocked down a pair of 3-pointers in the first quarter for the Lady Tigers, but Union Springs' Renee Parks scored seven points, and Danielle Waldron added five points as the Lady Wolves kept the game even at 15-15 after the first eight minutes.

Ayres canned two more 3-pointers in the second quarter, and junior Ari Manwaring added four points, but Kailey Kalet scored seven points, and Park added five points, including her second 3-pointer of the game, to fuel a 17-12 spurt to give Union Springs a 32-27 lead at the halftime intermission.

Park scored seven more points in the third quarter, and Waldron chipped in with four points as Union Springs extended its lead 50-43 with an 18-14 spurt. Ayres kept the Lady Tigers in the contest with 10 points, including a trio of 3-pointers.

Senior Chloe Bellis scored six points in the fourth quarter, and Wood added a 3-pointer, but the Lady Wolves held on for the win.

Ayres led Tioga with 22 points, including a season-high seven 3-pointers, three rebounds, two assists, and two steals, while Wood had 11 points, including a trio of 3-pointers, four rebounds, and five assists, and Chloe Bellis had nine points, 14 rebounds, five assists, and five steals.

Senior Giovanna Rossi had four points and 12 rebounds for the Lady Tigers, while Manwaring had four points, three boards, and one blocked shot, sophomore Chloe Bellis hauled down eight rebounds, and freshman Reese Howey chipped in with two boards and one blocked shot.

Park led Union Springs with 23 points, including three 3-pointers, while Kalet scored 16 points, and Waldron added 13.

Tioga wraps up the 2019-20 campaign with a 9-12 record.

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IN PHOTO: Tioga's Olivia Ayres.