Valley Sports ReportSAYRE — North Penn-Mansfield opened up a 10-point lead after the first quarter and cruised to a 61-42 win over Sayre here Friday night in NTL boys basketball action.
"We have to execute better," said Sayre coach Paul Blythe. "We had chances to make runs, we made several stops in a row and could never get buckets to go with the stops.
"The effort is there, we just need to execute better on the offensive side," noted Blythe. "When we get stops we have to score, we can’t come away empty."
NP-M jumped out to a 19-9 lead after the first quarter. Senior Carter Bleiler and sophomore Riley Johnson each canned 3-pointers for the Redskins.
The Tigers outscored the Redskins, 17-9, in the second quarter to extend their lead to 36-18 at the halftime intermission
Junior Rommel Suba scored all nine of Sayre's points, including a 3-pointer, in the second quarter.
The second quarter was nearly even with NP-M outscoring Sayre, 25-24.
Suba led Sayre with 14 points, five rebounds and five steals, and sophomore Brayden Northrup had nine points and five boards.
"It was a big night for Brayden Northrup off the bench," said Blythe. "He’s really grown a lot in the program since week 1.
"Rommel Suba also had another great night on the offensive end," he added.
Junior Declan Barry had eight points, three rebounds, two assists, and four steals for the Redskins, while Bleiler added six points on a pair of 3-pointers and three boards, and Johnson chipped in with five points and three rebounds.
The Redskins, now 3-13, travel to NP-Liberty Monday, then host Athens Wednesday and Williamson Friday.
"Big week next week as we have to pick up 1 or 2 wins to end season to secure a district game," said Blythe. "We gotta lock in and go get it.
"Our motto has always been 'process not perfection' and we are beginning to trust the process as a young group," he added. "I’m excited for what we have."
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IN PHOTO 1: Sayre's Brayden Northrup. IN TOP PHOTO: Sayre's Declan Barry. ... PHOTOS BY TIM BIRNEY.
