NTL BOYS BASKETBALL: HALFTIME ADJUSTMENT PROPELS SAYRE TO 57-33 WIN OVER CANTON (2025-01-18)

Valley Sports Report
CANTON — A halftime adjustment turned Sayre's eight-point halftime lead into a 20-advantage after three quarters in the Redskins' 57-33 win over Canton here Saturday in NTL Small School boys basketball action.

"We had a very slow night to begin with," said Sayre coach Paul Blythe. "We had shots and very open looks just rattling the rim.

"We made a key second-half adjustment to our offense, turning to a secondary look we run, and it sparked what we needed," added Blythe.

Senior Zach Senese led Sayre with 22 points, including six 3-pointers, five assists, and four steals, and senior Hudson Trump had 11 points, 14 rebounds, and five steals.

"Zach (Senese) had a big night for us — leadership-wise on the floor and off the floor as a vocal voice for his teammates," said Blyther.

"His stat line speaks for itself," noted Blythe. "He has come a very long way this season in his leadership qualities and abilities. I’m very proud of him tonight.

"He had a great combo with Hudson (Trump) doing Hudson-like things for us inside.

"(Trump) is a force for us inside each night and his ability to spread the floor for us with his shooting of the 3-ball is key to our style of play," added Blythe.

Junior Karter Green knocked down a pair of 3-pointers in the first quarter, and Senese canned his first of the game to help the Redskins to a 13-4 lead after the opening stanza.

Senese added two more 3-pointers in the second quarter, but the Warriors outscored Sayre, 9-8, to close the gap to 21-13 at the half.

Senese, Trump, and senior Nick Pellicano, who was held scoreless in the first half, scored seven points apiece in the third quarter, and senior Ryan Ressler added four points in Sayre's 25-13 blitz that gave them a 46-26 lead entering the final eight minutes.

Senese knocked down two more 3-pointers in the fourth quarter as Sayre closed the game with an 11-7 spurt.

Pellicano had nine points, four rebounds, four assists, and three steals for the Redskins, while Green added six points and two assists, and Ressler chipped in with four points, seven boards and one blocked shot.

Sayre, now 11-3, returns to action Monday when it hosts Sullivan County.

"We have a very short turn-around with Sullivan County coming to Sayre Monday, then it’s all NTL from there," said Blythe. "We just have to keep playing our game, our style, and imposing our will on our opponents, and I like what we can do each night."

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IN PHOTO: Sayre's Zach Senese. ... VSR STOCK PHOTO.

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