Valley Sports ReportATHENS "" Athens jumped out to an early double-digit lead, held off a Wellsboro rally in the third quarter, then pulled away in the final eight minutes for a 50-33 win in a key NTL Large School girls basketball match-up.
Senior Haley Barry knocked down a 3-pointer and scored five points in the first quarter, while sophomore Cayden Macik added four points, junior Megan Collins canned a 3-pointer, and junior Kayleigh Miller added an old-fashioned three-point play to help the Lady Wildcats to a 16-4 lead after the first eight minutes.
Neither team could find the range in the second quarter, and Athens led 20-8 at the half.
Cathryn Bought pumped in 15 points in the third quarter for the Lady Green Hornets, but five points from Macik and four from Barry helped Athens maintain a lead, at 33-27, heading into the final eight minutes.
Barry scored nine points in the fourth quarter, and Collins banged home another 3-pointer as the Lady Wildcats sealed the victory with a game-closing 17-6 run in the final eight minutes.
Barry led Athens with a career-high 20 points, while Macik had 11 points, 10 boards, and one blocked shot, and Miller, who was honored prior to the game for her 100 career 3-pointers, had nine points, six rebounds, and four steals.
Collins added eight points in the win, while junior Rachel Stevens hauled down eight boards, and senior Avery Priester dished out four assists.
Brought led Wellsboro with 19 points and Bailey Monks added eight points.
Athens, now 9-1, travels to Williamson Tuesday.
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IN PHOTO 1: Athens senior Haley Barry. IN PHOTO 2: Athens junior Kayleigh Miller and Athens High School principal Corey Mosher. PHOTOS COURTESY OF DAVID ALLIGER "" TRAVELING PORTRAITS PHOTOGRAPHY.
