IAC BOYS BASKETBALL: NEWARK VALLEY WINS PHYSICAL CLASH WITH WHITNEY POINT (January 31, 2026)

NEWARK VALLEY — Newark Valley survived a physical clash with Whitney Point here Friday night, but not before turning back the Golden Eagles, comeback bid to claim a 46-41 IAC South Large School victory.

“It was a very physical game, and some physicality went without a whistle,” said coach Scott Stratton. “The boys were frustrated at times but managed their emotions well and were able to keep their heads in the game.

“Whitney Point got off to an 8-2 start and all the energy in the gym seemed to be going their way. Following a timeout, however, we went on an 11-2 run of our own to take a lead heading into the second quarter.

“We got some turnovers and a string of buckets late in the second quarter to build a 10-point lead heading into halftime.”

Tristan Veruto scored 11 points in the opening half, 10 in the second period, and Cooper Davis had 10 points at halftime.

NV led 29-19 at the break, but the Eagles trimmed it to 38-35 heading into the final frame.

“A Whitney Point run in the third quarter tightened the game back up, and it was a battle from there,” Stratton said. “We did a good job down the stretch taking care of the ball, but we could have solidified that game much sooner if we had made some free throws.

“Their man-to-man pressure was aggressive, but the guys did a good job of spreading the floor, getting ball reversals, and driving gaps to help us make plays.”

Davis led NV with 17 points and Veruto added 13 more. TimWojtysiak had seven, Nate Hinckley five, and Austin Green and Jash Benjamin tacked on two points apiece.

Whitney Point was paced by Jack Czebiniak’s 11 points, including a trio of 3-pointers.

Newark Valley hosts Trumansburg on Tuesday.

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