NTL GIRLS BASKETBALL: ATHENS TOPS BENTON, 43-32 (2024-12-23)

Valley Sports Report
ATHENS — Athens held Benton to just 13 points through quarters, then withstood a barrage of points in the fourth quarter in a 43-32 win here Monday afternoon in non-league girls basketball action.

Sophomore McKenna Jarvis had the Wildcats' only field goal of the first eight minutes, and senior Addy Wheeler added a pair of free throws as Athens took a 4-2 lead.

Wheeler knocked down a 3-pointer and scored six points in the second quarter to fuel a 12-5 run that gave the Wildcats a 16-9 halftime lead.

Senior Sara Bronson, who was 4-for-4 from the free throw line in the stanza, scored six points in the third quarter, and senior Kelsie Noel added four points in a 10-6 spurt that gave the Wildcats a 26-13 lead heading into the final eight minutes.

The fourth quarter was an offensive explosion with Benton holding a 19-17 advantage. Athens made it a bit more difficult than it needed to be, hitting on just 5 of 14 shots from the charity stripe.

Bronson and Wheeler scored five points apiece in the fourth quarter to help the Wildcats preserve the lead.

Wheeler led Athens with 13 points, nine rebounds, four assists, nine steals, and two blocked shots, while Bronson had 13 points and seven rebounds, and Jarvis had six points, three assists, and four steals.

Noel had six points and four rebounds in the win, and freshman Allison Kemp grabbed four rebounds.

Athens returns to action Thursday when it hosts Waverly at 6 p.m. in the opening round of the Valley Christmas Tournament.

JV: Benton 28, Athens 23 (Allison Kemp 14).

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IN PHOTO: Athens senior Addy Wheeler. ... VSR STOCK PHOTO.

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