NTL GIRLS BASKETBALL: JARVIS, WHEELER COME THROUGH IN CLUTCH; ATHENS TOPS WYALUSING, 39-35 (24 PHOTOS) (2025-02-10)

Valley Sports Report
ATHENS — Sophomore McKenna Jarvis scored five straight points early in the fourth quarter to give Athens the lead for good, and senior Addison Wheeler nailed down a 39-35 win over Wyalusing with four free throws in the final 15 seconds here Monday night in NTL Large School Division girls basketball action.

The Wildcats started fast with senior Sara Bronson and Wheeler each knocking down a pair of 3-pointers for a 12-5 lead midway through the first quarter.

Wyalusing closed the gap to 12-10, but Jarvis knocked down a 15-foot jumper, then hit a runner following an offensive rebound in the final 40 seconds to give the Wildcats a 16-10 lead after the opening stanza.

Trenna Nickeson pumped in 10 points for the Rams in the second quarter, but Athens clung to a 21-20 lead at the half.

Athens' offensive struggles continued in the third quarter, but its defense kept them in the game. Wyalusing used a 6-4 spurt in the stanza to take a 26-25 lead into the halftime locker room.

Wyalusing led 30-27 early in the fourth quarter when Jarvis drained a 3-pointer from the wing with 6:16 remaining to tie the game at 30-30.

With 4:30 left in the game, Jarvis was fouled in transition, and made a pair of free throws to give Athens a 32-30 lead.

Neither team scored on their next two possessions, but Wheeler upped the lead to 34-30 with a runner in the lane with 3:06 remaining.

Emily Johns made 1 of 2 free throws with 1:38 remaining to trim the deficit to 34-31, and Alysha Botts turned a steal into a lay-up to close the gap to 34-33 with 1:02 remaining, but missed a free throw that would have tied the game.

Freshman Allie Kemp made 1 of 2 free throws with 35 seconds remaining to make it 35-33.

After Athens forced a turnover, Wheeler was fouled with 15 seconds remaining and drained a pair of free throws to extend the lead to 37-33.

Rachel Wilson kept the Rams' hopes alive with a short jumper in the lane with 8.2 seconds remaining, but Wheeler made two more free throws with 5 seconds left to ice the win.

Wheeler led Athens with 16 points, including a pair of 3-pointers, six rebounds, and four assists, while Jarvis scored 12 points, grabbed nine rebounds, and had three steals, Bronson added 10 points, including two 3-pointers, and Kemp had two rebounds, two assists, and two steals.

Nickeson led Wyalusing with 13 points and Botts added nine points.

Athens finished up the season with a 15-7 record, and awaits word on its opponent in the upcoming District 4, Class 4A playoffs.

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IN PHOTO 1: Athens sophomore McKenna Jarvis. IN TOP PHOTO: Athens senior Addy Wheeler. ... PHOTOS BY TIM BIRNEY.

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