IAC BOYS BASKETBALL: S-VE DROPS CLOSE ONE TO NOTRE DAME (2021-03-02)

Tioga County Sports Report
SOUTHPORT — Spencer-Van Etten was unable to dig itself out of a first-half hole, dropping a 64-61 IAC clash to Elmira Notre Dame here Tuesday evening.

The Panthers only trailed by three after a quarter, but a 21-point surge from ND gave the Crusaders a 36-24 advantage at intermission.

S-VE rallied in the third quarter behind 10 points from James Sutherlin, five from Matt Merrick and one 3-pointer apiece by Marcus Brock and Matthew Byrne.

That would cut the lead to 48-45 entering the final eight minutes, but ND held on for the win. Steven Gough, who led all scorers with 24 points, hit six of eight free throw attempts to help seal the win. He went 9-for-11 at the stripe overall.

Sutherlin returned from a two-game layoff to pace the Panthers with 22 points. Byrne tacked on 17 and accounted for half of S-VE's six 3-pointers. Brock added eight points, Merrick had seven, Dominic Grier chipped in with three, and Tyler Doster and Logan Jewell added two apiece.

Malaki Owens and Jay Sheehan scored 13 apiece for ND, and Eric Bukowinski added 11.

S-VE (4-1) hosts Notre Dame Thursday.

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IN PHOTO 1: S-VE's James Sutherlin. ... Photos courtesy of Derek Grier.