Valley Sports ReportELMIRA HEIGHTS "" Sophomore J.J. Babcock led four scorers in double-figures to pace Athens in a 67-58 win over Thomas A. Edison here Monday night in non-league boys basketball action.
Senior Aaron Lane knocked down a 3-pointer, and scored nine points in the first quarter, and Babcock added six points to help Athens to a 19-13 lead after the first eight minutes.
Babcock scored eight points, including a 3-pointer, in the second quarter, and senior Damian Hudson drained two 3-pointers as the Wildcats outscored the Spartans, 18-16, to take a 37-29 lead into the halftime intermission.
Edison trimmed the deficit to 48-44 entering the final eight minutes, but Hudson canned two more 3-pointers in the fourth quarter, while Babcock scored five points, and Lane and sophomore Troy Pritchard scored four points apiece to help the Wildcats add to its lead.
Babcock led Athens with 21 points, 12 rebounds, five assists, and four steals, while Lane had 19 points and eight rebounds, and Hudson scored 14 points, including four 3-pointers.
Pritchard had 11 points and six boards in the win, and freshman Mason Lister added seven rebounds and three assists.
Ryan Benedict led Edison with 20 points, and Jack Shaw added 14.
Athens, now 15-6, wraps up the regular season Wednesday at Montoursville, then hosts Canton Thursday night in the opening round of the NTL Showdown.
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IN PHOTO: Athens sophomore J.J. Babcock.
