IAC BOYS BASKETBALL: NEWARK VALLEY ENDS SLUMP WITH TEAM EFFORT (2020-01-10)
Tioga County Sports Report
DRYDEN — Newark Valley snapped a six-game slump here Friday night, riding the momentum of a 20-point opening period to a 61-52 victory over Dryden in an IAC Large School crossover game.
"A few buckets at the start of the game created a lot of excitement and momentum, and we rode that energy for much of the first half," NV coach Scott Stratton said.
Raidyn Ford scored seven points and Jaden Short added six to spark the early burst. Four from Donavin Beebe and three more from Connor Spoonhower helped NV build a 20-10 advantage.
Caden Bennett popped a pair of 3-pointers in the second quarter, but Ethan Hicks hit for nine points and Patrick Murphy added six as the Purple Lions closed the gap to 29-25 at the half.
The Cardinals outscored Dryden, 14-9, in the third quarter to take a 43-34 lead into the fourth quarter.
"Ethan Hicks was really tough for Dryden tonight," Stratton said. "A change of defenses in the third quarter quieted him, but he came back at us time and time again in the fourth quarter."
Hicks would score seven of his game-high 23 points in the final frame, but Beebe notched eight of his team-high 20 and Ford added five as NV matched Dryden's 18-point output in the period. Ford, Brenton Rosenberg and Riley Malone combined to sink eight free throws over the final eight minutes of play.
"Donavin Beebe came up big in the second half for us, both in rebounding and putting points up on the scoreboard," Stratton said.
"Raidyn Ford’s steady play both got us kick-started early and helped us finish off a surging Dryden team."
"We got some timely sharp shooting from Caden Bennett, Connor Spoonhower, and Jaden Short tonight that helped carry us to this win."
Ford bolstered the Cardinal scoring effort with 15 points, Bennett contributed eight, and Short and Spoonhower added six apiece. Malone and Jake Armstrong added three and one, respectively.
NV (2-6) travels to Marathon Tuesday to face the state-ranked Olympians.
