YOUTH BASKETBALL: ONE ATHENS TEAM WINS, ANOTHER RUNNER-UP AT 'KING OF COURT CHAMPIONSHIP' (3 PHOTOS) (2023-03-09)

Valley Sports Report
The Athens fourth- & fifth-grade team won the team title at the annual NTL Youth Basketball King of the Court Championship Tournament over the weekend, while the third- & fourth-grade team was a runner-up, and the fifth- & sixth-grade team was 1-1.

All three boys teams are part of the Athens Wildcats Youth Basketball Association (AWYBA).

The AWYBA 4th- & 5th-grade team (Coe) went 4-0 on the day, including victories over Wyalusing, Troy and St. Agnes to earn a spot in the championship game against top-seeded Waverly.

Both teams played a competitive back-and-forth game, with Athens securing the victory 27-23 to win the King of the Court Championship.

Athens was led offensively on the day by the play of Evan Westerfield, who scored 38 points, Elliott Chilson (28 points) and Ian Johnston (21 points).

Team Coe finishes the season with a 21-9 record.

The Athens 3rd- & 4th-grade team (Briggs) went 3-1 on the day, including victories over Waverly, Towanda and NEB to earn a spot in the championship game against top-seeded Sayre.

Sayre fended off a late-game run by Athens to hold onto a 19-17 victory.

Athens was led offensively on the day by the play of Connor Cole, who tallied 41 points, and Carter Johnson (18 points).

Team Briggs finishes the season with a 16-6 record.

The Athens 5th- & 6th-grade team (Smith) went 1-1 on the day, with a convincing victory over Sayre before dropping its second game to eventual champion Troy.

The team was led offensively on the day by the play of Aidan Briggs, who scored 12 points, and Ryan Hicks (10 points).

Team Smith finishes the season with a 17-11 record.

The AWYBA will conclude its season with the 3rd through 6th grade girls this coming weekend at Towanda on Saturday (3rd- & 4th-grade girls, and 6th-grade girls) and at Athens on Sunday (5th-grade girls).

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PHOTOS PROVIDED.