NTL BOYS BASKETBALL: ATHENS COMEBACK FALLS SHORT IN LOSS TO NEWFIELD IN CONSOLATION GAME OF JC TIP-OFF TOURNEY (24 PHOTOS) (December 13, 2025)

Valley Sports Report
JOHNSON CITY — After falling behind by as many as 17 points, Athens closed the gap in the third quarter but came up short in a 60-48 loss to Newfield here Saturday afternoon in the consolation of the Johnson City Tip-Off Tournament.

"We missed a lot of easy shots, lay-ups, in this tournament," said Athens coach Jim Lister. "We fix that and we win games."

Newfield led 18-12 at the end of the first quarter, and 29-21 at the half.

The Trojans came out of the half and stretched the lead to 17 points, but Athens, with senior James Friend scoring nine points and Aiden Briggs  draining two 3-pointers, closed the gap to six in the final minute of the stanza.

Newfield led 47-40 entering the final eight minutes, and Trojan standout Malcolm Jenkins' early 3-pointer helped them to a game-sealing 13-8 advantage in the fourth quarter.

Senior Grazul led Athens with 20 points, five rebounds, three assists, and three steals, while Friend had nine points, five rebounds, three assists, and three blocked shots, and Briggs scored eight points, including a pair of 3-pointers,

Senior Talon Baglini added five points for the Wildcats, while senior Adam Kemp dished out five assists, and junior Alex McQuay chipped in with four points.

Athens returns to action Tuesday when it hosts North Penn-Liberty.

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IN PHOTO 1: Athens senior Nick Grazul. IN TOP PHOTO: Athens senior James Friend. ... PHOTOS BY MATT PATTON.

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