Valley Sports ReportNEWARK VALLEY "" After trailing for the first 2 1/2 quarters, Waverly took the lead and extended it to double-digits, then held on for dear life in a 42-37 win over Newark Valley here Friday evening in IAC junior varsity boys basketball action.
The win is the 23rd straight for the junior Wolverines dating back to last season.
"It was a very physical game in which struggled to score in first half," said Waverly JV coach Michael Croft. "I'm very proud of the kids who stepped up and made the most of their minutes. In particular Jake VanHouten who is getting healthier each day
Landon Spoonhower scored 10 points in the first half to help the junior Cardinals to an 18-17 lead at the intermission. Nate DeLill paced Waverly with eight points.
Daniel Truesdail scored a pair of buckets early in the third quarter to keep Newark Valley in the lead, but Waverly closed the stanza with 16-4 run, fueled by 10 points from Isaiah Bretz and four points from Jake Benjamin, to take a 35-26 lead into the final eight minutes.
Bretz added a pair of free throws early in the fourth quarter to extend the Waverly lead to 37-26, but Newark Valley closed the gap to 39-37 in the final minute. Truesdail and Danile Pirger spearheaded NV's fourth-quarter comeback with four points apiece, and Gavin Mann added a 3-pointer.
Jake VanHouten sealed the victory for the Wolverines with a pair of free throws with 15 seconds remaining.
Bretz led Waverly with 13 points, eight rebounds, four assists, and four steals, while DeLill had 10 points and six boards, and VanHouten had six points and five rebounds.
Jay Pipher scored five points in the win, while Benjamin chipped in with four points and three rebounds, Kayla Bechy grabbed six rebounds, and Carter George added four boards.
Truesdail led Newark Valley with 11 points, while Spoonhower and Pirger added 10 points apiece, and Mann chipped in with five.
Waverly hosts Tioga tonight.
