Valley Sports ReportSAYRE — Sayre used a big second-quarter run to build a 12-point halftime lead, and held on for a 46-33 win over Canton here Thursday night in NTL Small School boys basketball action.
"An ugly win tonight," said Sayre coach Paul Blythe. "A win none the less, but it would be nice to not have to win that way.
"Our defense is what kept us in the game tonight," noted Blythe. "I’m not sure how many turnovers Canton had, but we were able to force them into some bad decisions and then were able to convert enough of them to win tonight.
"We didn’t shoot well, didn’t pass well, didn’t do a lot well on the offensive end," said Blythe. "So when you have games like that when you can play that poorly by your own standards and still get a win we will take it.
"We have lots to clean up for Saturday when we play Canton again," added Blythe. "It's hard to beat a team two times a year, let alone two times in 48 hours. We will fix what needs fixed, and play at a higher level Saturday night."
Senior Ryan Ressler scored four points in the first quarter and Sayre led 8-7 after the opening stanza.
The Redskins hit on all cylinders in the second quarter, with senir Hudson Trump scoring six points, Ressler adding four, senior Edwin Rivera canning a 3-pointer, and senior Nick Pellicano adding an old-fashion three-point play in a 20-9 blitz that pushed the lead to 28-16 at the half.
Sayre did enough in the second half, outscoring Canton 18-17 over the final two quarters.
The Redskins made it difficult on themselves by making just 3 of 12 free throws in the second half.
Trump led Sayre with 12 points and nine rebounds, whilePellicano had 10 points, four rebounds, five assists, and 10 steals, and Ressler had eight points, four rebounds, and two blocked shots.
Senior Mikey Griffin added five points and three assists in the win, while junior Karter Green had four points, three rebounds, and four steals, senior Zach Senese had four points and three rebounds, senior Dalton Forrest grabbed four rebounds, and senior Theo Molina dished out three assists.
Ben Fitch and Talon Williams scored 14 points apiece to lead Canton.
Sayre, now 10-3, travels to Canton Saturday.
