NTL BOYS BASKETBALL: ATHENS FINISHES OFF RUGGED WEEK WITH 71-55 WIN OVER TROY (14 PHOTOS) (February 6, 2026)

Valley Sports Report
TROY — Athens used a big second half to finish off a rugged 3-0 week with a 71-55 win over Troy here Friday night in NTL Large School Division boys basketball action at the Troy Commons Building.

"It’s been a good week," said Athens coach Jim Lister. "Wellsboro, Mansfield and Troy — and 3-0. 

"We are playing some really good basketball right now," noted Lister.  "I am extremely proud of these kids.  They are leaving it all out there and playing their hearts out. They want to win and it shows.

"I keep saying it takes everyone to win big games and tonight was no different," added Lister. "This was another nice team win for the Wildcats."

Troy started fast, taking a 20-14 lead after the first quarter, despite 10 points from Athens junior Lucas Schultz, and a 3-pointer by freshman Aiden Briggs.

Schultz knocked down a pair of 3-pointers and scored nine points in the second quarter, while senior Adam Kemp scored five points, including a trey, and Briggs drained a 3-pointer as Athens used a 20-16 run to close the gap to 36-34 at the halftime intermission.

Briggs canned his third 3-pointer of the game and scored five points, while Schultz scored four points, and senior Eli Hobday connected from behind the arc as the Wildcats used a 16-11 spurt to take a 50-47 lead heading in final eight minutes.

The fourth quarter was all Wildcats.

Senior Nick Grazul scored seven points, including a 3-pointer, in the fourth quarter, while senior James Friend scored six points, and Schultz and Hobday each canned 3-pointers to fuel a game-closing 21-8 blitz.

The Wildcats pulled away despite making just 4 of 13 free-throw attempts in the fourth quarter, and 8 of 24 in the game.

Schultz led Athens with a career-high 27 points, including four 3-pointers, while Briggs scored 12, including a trio of 3-pointers, and Grazul had 11 points.

Friend had eight points for the Wildcats, while Hobday added six points on a pair of 3s, and Kemp chipped in with five points.

A big shout-out to junior Lucas Shultz, who is playing ferrific basketball right now," said Lister. "I am so proud of him."

Trey Teribury led Troy with 12 points.

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IN PHOTO 1: Athens junior Lucas Schultz. IN TOP PHOTO: Athens freshman Aiden Briggs. ... PHOTOS BY CHRIS MANNING.

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