IAC BOYS BASKETBALL: STATE-RANKED T-BURG PULLS AWAY FROM NEWARK VALLEY (2024-02-09)

Tioga County Sports Report
TRUMANSBURG — The Newark Valley boys basketball team was looking for an upset and a berth in the Section IV playoffs Friday night, but state-ranked Trumansburg pulled away for a 65-47 IAC Large School victory.

Up until the final frame, however, the Cardinals remained within striking distance.

“We didn’t play well overall and still had a chance to win that game,” NV coach Scott Stratton said. “Obviously the fourth quarter was the difference maker. We didn’t respond to their offensive run with buckets of our own and we turned the ball over too much, a problem we had throughout the game, not just the fourth quarter.”

NV snagged the early lead as Danny Pirger pumped out 10 points to lead the Cardinals to a 16-12 advantage heading into the second period.

The Blue Raiders bounced back to go in front, 31-29, at the break, then stretched their lead to 43-38 heading into the fourth quarter.

Mason von Gordon scored eight of his game-high 18 points in the period, Paul Clemenson and Nik Nelson added four points each, and Arlo Peake and Jackson Riggins-George tacked on one 3-pointer apiece.

Dan Truesdail recorded a double-double with 13 points and 12 rebounds while Pirger paced the Cardinals on the scoreboard with 17 points and also dished out eight assists. Anthony Dougher had 10 points and seven boards, and Ryan Rhodes pitched in with seven points and five rebounds.

“Tonight did see the return of senior Ryan Rhodes, who played his first contest since going down with an ankle injury in December,” said Stratton. “It was great to see him back out there competing.”

NV (7-11) must defeat Union Springs (7-11) Monday or Southern Cayuga (4-12) Tuesday to qualify for the Section IV playoffs. Those teams met Friday night (no score reported).

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