NTL BOYS BASKETBALL: ATHENS RIDES BIG SECOND HALF TO 65-45 WIN OVER BLUE RIDGE (2025-02-10)

Valley Sports Report
NEW MILFORD, Pa. — Athens played four quarters of "intense" defense, and the offense caught up in the second half of a 65-45 win over Blue Ridge here Monday night in non-league boys basketball action.

The Wildcats wrap up the regular season at 9-13.

"Defensively, I have been real pleased with our intensity level on the defensive end of the floor the second half of the season, and tonight was no different," said Athens coach Jim Lister. "The kids came ready to play and were flying around making things happen.

"Offensively, we started off slow again tonight," noted Lister. "That has been our M-O all season, but with how they were playing defense it was just a matter of time before we got things rolling.

"We came out in the second half firing on all cylinders, and honestly it was fun to watch," added Lister.

Junior Nick Grazul scored six points in the first quarter, but Blue Ridge led 8-6 after the opening stanza.

Athens picked up the pace offensively in the second quarter. Sophomore Lucas Schultz scored six points, including a 3-pointer, while junior Adam Kemp added four points, and senior Jase Babcock tacked on a 3-pointer as the Wildcats used a 13-9 spurt to take a 19-17 lead heading into the halftime locker room.

The Wildcats found its rhythm in the third quarter, with four different players knocking down 3-pointers in a 21-12 run.

Kemp scored eight points, including a 3-pointer, and Grazul had five points, including a trey, while Schultz and senior Troy Rosenbloom each added 3-pointers as the Wildcats extended its lead to 40-29 heading into the final eight minutes.

Athens kept it rolling in the fourth quarter as different players put their name in the scoring column. Grazul scored five points, while Rosenbloom and junior Talon Baglini added four points apiece, and Schultz drained his third3-pointer of the game.

Grazul led Athens with 16 points, while Kemp scored 15, Schultz had 12, and Rosenbloom added seven. Babcock had six points in the win, while senior Peter Jones added five, and Baglini chipped in with four.

"A couple big shout-outs," said Lister. "One to Nick Grazul, who had one of his best games of the season tonight ... and congratulations to our Seniors for going out in style in the last regular-season game of their high school careers.

"That’s how you do it," he added. "I'm proud of them ... another nice team win for the 'Cats."

Gehrig Dibble led Blue Ridge with 12 points, and Paxton Pingarelli added 10 points.

Athens now awaits word on its opening game of the District 4 / 11, Class 5A playoffs.

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IN PHOTO: Athens junior Nick Grazul. ... VSR STOCK PHOTO.

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