NTL BOYS BASKETBALL: ATHENS RALLIES FROM 13 DOWN; FALLS TO NP-LIBERTY, 66-63, IN OVERTIME (24 PHOTOS) (2024-12-12)
Valley Sports ReportLIBERTY — Athens came up big in the second half to force overtime, but came up short in the extra session in a 66-63 loss to North Penn-Liberty here Thursday night in NTL boys basketball action.
For Athens coach Jim Lister, the setback is just another chapter in his program's struggles at NP-L.
"In my tenure as head coach at Athens, we always struggled to play well at North Penn-Liberty and tonight was no different.
"We had 17 turnovers in the first half, we shot 5 for 11 from the free-throw line and we missed a lot of high-percentage shots we need to make," said Lister. "We went into halftime down 13.
"All that being said though, we did not quit and fought our way back to take the lead with just a few seconds left in the game.
"Unfortunately for us, they hit their foul shots at the end to send it to overtime," continued Lister. The ball just did not bounce out way in OT. It happens.
"I told our guys I was proud of them for battling right to the end and if they continue to fight like that they will win a lot of basketball games," he added. "We have a lot of basketball left to play."
NP-L led 18-10 at the end of the first eight minutes, and stretched its lead to 31-18 at the halftime intermission.
Junior Nick Grazul scored eight points in the third quarter, while senior Jase Babcock, who knocked down a pair of 3-pointers in the first quarter, and sophomore Lucas Schultz each had six points to key a 21-17 advantage in the stanza for the Wildcats, which trimmed the deficit to 48-39.
In the fourth quarter, Grazul and Babcock scored four points apiece to fuel a 14-5 run to close the gap to 53-52 with 25 seconds remaining.
Grazul knocked down his only 3-pointer of the game with 10 seconds remaining to give Athens a 55-53 lead — its first lead of the night, but Blake Oakley rushed the ball down court, and was fouled. He made both free throws to tie the game at 55-55.
In the overtime period, NP-L's Louis Mercantino drained a 3-pointer and knocked down another bucket to stake the Mountaineers to an early lead.
Athens kept the game within two to four points, but Oakley was 6-for-6 from the line in overtime to keep NP-L up at least two.
With one second remaining, Mercantino missed a pair of free throws. After a timeout, Athens missed a desperation shot as time expired.
Grazul led the Wildcats with 23 points, while Babcock scored 19, including four 3-pointers, Schultz added 10 points, and senior Peter Jones and junior Talon Baglini chipped in with four points apiece.
Adynn Wheeland led NP-L with 19 points, while Oakley scored 18, and Mercantino added 12.
Athens, now 1-1, takes on Norwich Friday in the opening round of the Johnson City Tip-Off Tournament. Game time is 5:30 p.m.
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IN PHOTO 1: Athens junior Nick Grazul. IN TOP PHOTO: Athens junior Talon Baglini. ... PHOTOS BY LANCE LARCOM.
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