NTL BOYS BASKETBALL: ATHENS FALLS TO TOWANDA IN OVERTIME THRILLER (16 PHOTOS) (January 30, 2026)

Valley Sports Report
TOWANDA — Athens had the win in its clutches, but a Darrius Farrell 3-pointer in the closing seconds of regulation forced overtime, where Towanda pulled out a 64-59 win here Friday night in an NTL Large School boys basketball battle for first place.

With the win, the Black Knights move into a tie with North Penn-Mansfield atop the divisional standings, while the Wildcats drop into a tie for second place, along with Troy, one game back of the leaders.

"It was a great high school basketball game. Both teams played their hearts out," said Athens coach Jim Lister.

"I’m extremely proud of our kids," he noted. "They left it all out there.

"I'm not going to lie, though, this one’s going to sting
For a bit because we had it," added Lister. "We need to regroup and get ready for next week because there’s a lot of basketball left."

Junior Lucas Schultz scored five points in the first quarter, and senior James Friend scored four to help Athens to an 11-8 lead.

Senior Adam Kemp scored six points in the second quarter, and freshman Aiden Briggs canned a 3-pointer as the Wildcats maintained a three-point lead, at 23-20, heading into the halftime locker room.

Athens stretched it lead to 30-22 in the third quarter, but Towanda used a 10-0 run to rally for a 32-30 lead.

A putback on the offensive board by Friend in the final moments of the third quarter put the Wildcats back in front, at 34-32, heading into the final eight minutes.

Schultz turned a steal into a breakaway lay-up to open the fourth quarter, but a Towanda 3-pointer with 5:03 remaining tied the game at 37-37.

Schultz scored on a driving lay-up to put Athens up, then Friend scored, off a feed from senior Eli Hobday, to make it 41-37 with 3 minutes remaining.

Towanda rallied to tie the game at 41-41 with 1 minute remaining, then Schultz was fouled going to the bucket. It was ruled an intentional foul, and after Schultz made both free throws to make it 43-41 with 31 seconds remaining, the Wildcats got the ball back.

The Wildcats turned the ball over, but Towanda's efforts to tie or take the lead came up empty.

Schultz was fouled again and made 1 of 2 to make it 44-41 with 10.6 remaining, setting the stage for Farrell's game-tying 3-pointer.

Towanda made five free throws to begin the extra session to take a 49-44 lead with 1:23 remaining in the overtime session. Towanda then extended its advantage to 54-46, before Schultz canned a 3-pointer with 13 seconds remaining.

Schultz led Athens with 20 points, while Friend scored 12 points, Kemp added six points, and Briggs chipped in with five points.

Graham Welles led a balanced Towanda attack with 15 points.

Athens hosts Wellsboro Monday.

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IN PHOTO 1: Athens senior James Friend. IN TOP PHOTO: Athens junior Lucas Schultz. ... PHOTOS BY CHRIS MANNING.

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