IAC BOYS BASKETBALL: S-VE SNAPS 5-GAME SKID (12 PHOTOS) (2020-01-17)

Tioga County Sports Report
SPENCER — S-VE hadn't tasted victory in nearly a month, but snapped that skid by dropping Groton, 73-67, in IAC Small School crossover action here Friday night.

The Panthers hadn't won since Dec. 19 and had been mired in a five-game slump.

Matthew Byrne shot the lights out from the field, shooting over 70 percent and hitting five 3-pointers. He would make it a double-double day, finishing with a game-high 33 points while pulling down 13 rebounds.

The Panthers outscored Groton in the first quarter, 14-9, and led 33-22 at the half. They extended their advantage to 49-36 heading into the fourth quarter, but the Indians refused to go away.

James Lucey and Garrett VanBenschoten scored eight points each during a 31-point barrage, but S-VE held on with 24 points of its own. Byrne accounted for 11 for the host.

James Sutherlin contributed 15 points, eight rebounds, four assists, three steals and two blocks for the Panthers; and Marcus Brock added 13 points and six boards.

Matthew Merrick had five points, Connor Forrest scored four, and Blaine Whitmarsh had three points and a block.

VanBenschoten led Groton with 18 points; Lucey had 12, and Kalib Manning and Kade Eldred tacked on 11 apiece.

S-VE (5-7) hosts state-ranked Marathon (9-2) Jan. 24.

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IN PHOTO 1: S-VE's Matthew Byrne (15). ... PHOTOS COURTESY OF DANIEL SUTHERLIN.