NTL BASKETBALL: PELLICANO'S CAREER-HIGH LEADS SAYRE IN 80-53 WIN OVER WILLIAMSON (24 PHOTOS) (January 25, 2024)

Valley Sports Report
SAYRE - Junior Nick Pellicano poured in a career-high 40 points to lead Sayre in an 80-53 win over Williamson here Thursday night in NTL Small School Division boys basketball action.

"Tonight, Nick (Pellicano) was the leader I’ve known him to be for two years now," said Sayre coach Paul Blythe. "He’s that kid who wants the ball in bit moments, but knows how to share the ball when his teammates are open. It’s a rare combo to have today in an athlete.

"I’m very proud of him and the team tonight," Blythe added.

Blythe was pleased with his team’s overall performance in the win.

"Finally, we played an offensive game where we were looking for one another,. making the extra pass, and finishing.

"Our defense started off slow and Williamson was able to catch us on some sideline passes due to our aggression and overplay, but we were able to make adjustments and clean things up and pull away in the second half," said Blythe.

Pellicano scored 11 points in the first quarter, and Senese buried a 3-pointer to help the Redskins to a 23-17 lead after the first eight minutes.

Pellicano scored nine more points in the second quarter, and freshman Declan Barry, and junior Mikey Griffin each knocked down 3-pointers as Sayre used a 17-13 advantage in the stanza to take a 40-30 lead into the halftime locker room.

Pellicano added nine points in the third quarter, while Senese drained a pair of 3-pointers, and Barry added another trey in a 23-13 run to extend the lead to 63-43 heading into the final eight minutes.

Pellicano, who pumped in 11 points in the fourth quarter, was 5-for-6 from the free throw line, and the Redskins made 8 of 12 as a team in the final stanza to seal the victory.

Senese scored nine points on a trio of 3-pointers in the win, while Griffin added eight points, Barry had six, senior Tanner Green had five points, and juniors Hudson Trump and Ryan Ressler chipped in with four points apiece.

Kristian Mizdail and Jack Nolan led Williamson with 17 points apiece.

Sayre, now 7-9, hosts Western Wayne Saturday afternoon.

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