Valley Sports ReportATHENS — Athens got off to a fast start and cruised to a 60-19 season-opening win over Williamson here Monday night in NTL boys basketball action.
Seniors Adam Kemp and Eli Hobday each knocked down a pair of 3-pointers and combined to score 20 points to fuel the Wildcats' 24-5 first-quarter blitz.
Freshman Aidan Briggs drained a 3-pointer and scored five points in the second quarter, and senior James Friend scored four points as Athens used a 15-10 advantage to stretch its lead to 39-15 at the half.
Senior Nick Grazul scored four points in the third quarter, and Hobday connected on another 3-pointer in an 11-4 spurt that extended the Athens lead to 50-19 entering the final eight minutes.
Kemp led Athens with 14 points, while Hobday had 12 points, six assists and seven steals, Friend had eight points, five rebounds, three assists, and five blocked shots, and Grazul had eight points and nine boards.
Talon Baglini and Briggs added five points apiece, and junior Dom Robbins chipped in with four points. Briggs also had three rebounds.
Athens returns to action Thursday night against Norwich in the opening game at the Johnson City Tip-Off Tournament.
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IN PHOTO 1: Athens senior Nick Grazul. IN TOP PHOTO: Athens junior Nick Grazul. ... PHOTOS BY TIM BIRNEY.
