Valley Sports ReportLIBERTY, Pa. — Athens took a 10-point lead early, but North Penn-Liberty rallied in the second quarter. The Wildcats, however, pulled out a 44-41 decision for its first win of the season here Friday in NTL boys basketball action.
Sophomore Allison scored five points, including a 3-pointer, while junior McKenna Jarvis, who drained a 3-pointer, and senior Ava Hughes scored four points apiece in Athens' game-opening 15-5 run in the firs eight minutes.
In the second quarter, NP-L's Haley Litzelman canned a pair of 3-pointers and was 4-for-4 from the free-throw line for 10 points and Victoria McTish added five points in a 15-6 run that closed the gap to 21-20 at the halftime break.
Jarvis buried a pair of 3-pointers in the third quarter, and sophomore Alissa Vough added six points, including a trey, but the Wildcats only outscored the Mountaineers, 12-11, and took a 33-31 lead into the fourth quarter.
In the final eight minutes, Kemp scored six points, including a 3-pointer, and Jarvis made 5 of 6 free throws down the stretch to preserve the win.
Jarvis led Athens with 17 points and nine rebounds, and Kemp had 11 points, five rebounds, two assists, and two steals.
Vough had six points and nine rebounds, and Hughes had six points and five boards for the Wildcats, while junior Brielle Mayo recorded six assists and four rebounds, and senior Megan Morgan chipped in with three boards.
Litzelman led NP-L with 26 points, including five 3-pointers and a 9-for-10 performance from the free-throw line.
Athens, now 1-3, returns to action Wednesday when it hosts Cowanesque Valley.
————————
IN PHOTO: Athens junior McKenna Jarvis. ... VSR STOCK PHOTO.
