Valley Sports ReportATHENS — Division champion Troy used a strong fourth quarter to put away a game Athens team in a 71-52 win here Friday night in NTL Large School boys basketball action.
"Honestly, we played the best game we have played all season tonight," said Athens coach Jim Lister. "Troy is the best team in the NTL hands down and they had to earn that one tonight
"I am extremely proud of our kids," he noted. "They left it all on the floor, and that’s all I can ever ask of them.
"A big shout out to Adam Kemp, who brought his game to another level tonight," added Lister. "We got better tonight and the future is bright."
Junior Adam Kemp scored eight points, including a 3-pointer and an old-fashion three-point play, but Troy led 19-16 after the first eight minutes
It was more of the same in the second quarter as Kemp and senior Troy Rosenbloom scored five points apiece, but Troy extended it lead with a 20-14 run to take a 39-20 lead into the halftime locker room.
Kemp scored eight more points, including another 3-pointer, and Rosenbloom added four points as Athens outscored Troy, 15-12, in the third quarter to close the gap to 49-45 heading into the fourth quarter.
Trey Teribury scored seven points in the fourth quarter, while Lincoln Chimics had six and Jack Burbage added five in Troy's 20-7 game-closing run that sealed the victory.
Kemp led Athens with 23 points, including a pair of 3-pointers, while Rosenbloom scored 11 points, and junior Nick Grazul added nine points.
Teribury led Troy with 21 points, while Burbage scored 17, Chimics added 16 points, and Spencer Martin chipped in with nine.
Athens, now 8-12, returns to action Saturday when it hosts Mount Carmel.
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IN PHOTO 1: Athens junior Adam Kemp. IN TOP PHOTO: Athens junior Nick Grazul. ... PHOTOS BY MATT PATTON.
