BINGHAMTON — Waverly built a big lead through three quarters, then held off Chenango Forks in the fourth for a 44-38 win here Tuesday night in STAC junior varsity boys basketball action.
With the win, Waverly, now 13-2 overall, clinches a share of the Central Division title. At 9-0 in league play, the Wolverines hold a 2 1/2-game lead over Chenango Valley with three games to play. (CV has two remaining.)
Waverly took control of the game from the start with an 18-6 first-quarter run.
Braiden Judson scored six points, including a 3-pointer, while Sam Cheresnowsky scored four points, Drew Croft knocked down a 3-pointer, and Collin Wheeler added an old-fashion three-point play in the first-quarter blitz.
Judson added four points in the second quarter, and Croft canned another 3-pointer as Waverly used a 9-7 scoring advantage in the stanza to take a 27-13 lead into the halftime intermission.
Collin Wheeler scored four points in the third quarter and Waverly outscored Forks, 11-9, to take a 38-22 into the final stanza.
Waverly went cold in the fourth quarter, and Forks had a hot hand, closing out the game with a 16-6 run to close the gap to six points.
Judson led Waverly with 14 points, eight rebounds, and three assists, while Cheresnowsky had 10 points and four rebounds, and Collin Wheeler had seven points, five rebounds, and three assists.
Croft added six points and three steals in the win, while Jack Pipher contributed six rebounds, four assists, seven steals, and one blocked shot, Axel Murray hauled down nine rebounds and blocked one shot, Eric Lewis had three boards, and Chase Wheeler chipped in with three steals.
Waverly returns to action Saturday when it hosts Owego.
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IN PHOTO 1: Waverly's Braiden Judson. IN TOP PHOTO: Waverly's Sam Cheresnowsky. ... PHOTOS COURTESY OF DANIELLE STREETER.