NTL BOYS BASKETBALL: ATHENS AVENGES EARLY SEASON LOSS WITH 56-32 WIN OVER NEB; ADVANCES TO SHOWDOWN FINALS (February 12, 2026)
Valley Sports Report
ROME — Athens took control in the second quarter, then pulled away I the second half to avenge a regular-season loss with a 56-32 win over Northeast Bradford here Thursday night in the semifinals of the NTL Boys Basketball Showdown.
Athens will square off with Towanda Saturday night at Mansfield University. The girls title game is slated to start at 6:30 p.m., with the boys game to flow.
The Wildcats, who lost 55-47 at NEB on Jan. 23, used their pressure defense to keep the Panthers off-kilter throughout the game.
"The kids played so good tonight," said Athens coach Jim Lister. "They came to play.
"I will continue to say it," noted Lister. "Great Defense fixes a lot of things, and tonight they played great defense.
"I am extremely proud of them," added Lister. "It was another nice team win for the Wildcats."
Junior Lucas Schultz scored nine points, including a 3-pointer, in the first quarter, and freshman Aiden Briggs also knocked down a 3-pointer to help Athens to a 14-11 lead after the opening eight minutes.
Senior Adam Kemp canned a pair of 3-pointers and scored eight points in the second quarter, while senior Nick Grazul scored six points, Schultz added four points, and Briggs drained another 3-pointer to fuel a 21-10 blitz that gave the Wildcats a 35-21 lead at the half.
The Athens offense slowed in the third quarter, but its defense limited NEB to just six points, while Schultz scored four points and Briggs was 4-for-4 from the line. Athens' 8-6 advantage in the stanza upped the lead to 43-27 heading into the final eight minutes.
Schultz and Kemp scored four points apiece and senior Eli Hobday canned a 3-pointer in the Wildcats' game-closing 13-5 run.
Schultz led Athens with 21 points, while Kemp added 12 points, including a pair of 3-pointers, Briggs added 10 points, including two 3-pointers, and Grazul chipped in with eight points.
Eli Stanton led NEB with 12 points.
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PHOTOS BY TINA MAYNARD.
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