DISTRICT 11 BOYS BASKETBALL: SOUTHERN LEHIGH'S SHARPSHOOTERS TAKE DOWN ATHENS, 59-29, IN CLASS 5A QUARTERFINALS (February 20, 2026)

Valley Sports Report
SCHUYLKILL HAVEN, Pa. — Fifth-seeded Athens kept it close for about 10 minutes, but fourth-seeded Southern Lehigh's long-range took its toll in a 59-29 win here Friday night in the quarterfinals of the District 11 Class 5A boys basketball playoffs.

"We got on a bus tonight and took a three-hour ride south to take on a very good, well-coached, legitimate 5A school in Southern Lehigh with sharpshooters everywhere," said Athens coach Jim Lister. 

"We were out of our league tonight.

"The moral of the story here is we play in the NTL, which is an A and AA league, and we are a 3A school," noted Lister. "The fact that the PIAA has had us in 5A the last two seasons is frankly ridiculous.
 
"That's just my two cents, for whatever that’s worth," he added.

Despite the loss, Lister was still high on his kids.

"That being said I could not be more proud of these kids.

"We finished 15-10 and whenever you have a winning season, you know you did something right," he said. "They won this year on effort and heart. They always left it all there and tonight was no different.

"We have had some great moments this year that I promise them they will never forget," added Lister. "They are a phenomenal bunch of young men and I am extremely proud of them."

The Spartans knocked down four 3-pointers in the first quarter, but five points, including a 3-pointer, by freshman Aiden Briggs helped keep the Wildcats close, at 14-8, after the opening stanza.

A pair of 3-pointers by Joe Plessl, who also had two treys in the first quarter, gave Southern Lehigh a double-digit lead, on its way to a 30-15 halftime advantage.

The Spartans canned four more 3-pointers in the third quarter, including a pair by Michael Frye, in a 17-6 run that put them ahead 47-21 lead entering the final eight minutes.

Southern Lehigh finished the game with 11 makes from behind the 3-point arc.

Seniors Eli Hobday, who drained a pair of 3-pointers, and James Friend led Athens with eight points apiece, and Briggs added five points. Senior Adam Kemp and junior Kam Wheeler each chipped in with a 3-pointer.

The Wildcats will graduate four seniors in Nick Grazul, Friend, Hobday, and Kemp.

"As for our seniors, I have no doubt Nick, James, Eli, and Adam will be extremely successful in the next chapter of their lives," said Lister. "They are not afraid to put in the work to be successful and that’s awesome, especially in today’s world. 

"We love them and we will miss them," added Lister. "They will always be a part of the Wildcat Family."

Athens caps the 2025-26 season with a 15-10 record.

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IN PHOTO: Athens senior James Friend. ... VSR STOCK PHOTO.

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