NTL BOYS BASKETBALL: SAYRE RIDES PELLICANO'S HOT HAND TO 67-57 WIN OVER TOWANDA (24 PHOTOS) (December 6, 2023)

Valley Sports Report
SAYRE - Sayre used balanced scoring to build a 13-point halftime advantage, and junior Nick Pellicano took over in the second half in the Redskins’ 67-57 win over over Towanda here Wednesday night in NTL boys basketball action.

First-year Sayre coach Paul Blythe said his Redskins played their game in improving to 2-1 on the season.

"We have a style of play we want to play at Sayre," he said. "Stout defense, and getting out and pushing the tempo. Tonight, we did that very very well.

"In our prep, we knew we had to slow Teagan Irish," noted Blythe. "He’s a big strong guard, who can get to his spots and score in bunches.

"But I also knew they had to stop our two guard attack or Nick (Pellicano) and Zach (Senese). They feed off one another so well," continued Blythe. "Tonight, Nick played like the leader he is. He took the ball and possession when we needed a big bucket and controlled the pace.

"I’m very proud of our guys and how we played tonight," he added. "We put this one in the vault and prep tomorrow for Wellsboro at home Friday night."

Junior Zach Senese canned a pair of 3-pointers and scored eight points, and junior Ryan Ressler added four points to help Sayre to an 18-11 lead after the first eight minutes.

Pellicano pumped in 10 points in the second quarter to fuel an 18-12 spurt that gave the Redskins a 36-23 lead at the halftime intermission.

Towanda’s Teagan Irish, who was held to four points in the first half, scored nine points in the third quarter, and the Black Knights used a 16-12 advantage in the stanza to trim the deficit to nine points, at 48-39, entering the final eight minutes.

Pellicano, who had seven points in the third quarter, scored seven more points in the fourth quarter, and Ressler added five points. Sayre also made 7 of 11 free throws down the stretch to preserve the win.

Pellicano led Sayre with 26 points, six rebounds, five assists, and one blocked shot, while Senese scored 15 points, including a pair of 3-pointers, and Ressler had 11 points and five rebounds.

Junior Mikey Griffin added nine points, 11 rebounds, and seven assists in the win, while Hudson Trump chipped in with four points, five rebounds, and three steals, freshman Declan Barry scored his first two varsity points, and freshman Dalton Forrest had three rebounds, and three assists.

Irish led Towanda with 23 points, including a trio of 3-pointers.

Sayre, now 2-1, hosts Wellsboro Friday night.

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IN PHOTO 1: Sayre’s Nick Pellicano. … PHOTOS BY BRENDAN CLAYPOOL.