Tioga County Sports ReportNEWARK VALLEY — Newark Valley saw an early lead slip away, but managed to battle past Sidney, 57-53, in a non-league boys basketball clash here Wednesday.
The Cardinals led, 19-10, after one quarter, but the Sabers worked their way back to tie the game at 39 heading into the fourth quarter.
Austin Green scored seven points in the final frame and Tristan Veruto tacked on a half-dozen markers to lead NV to the win.
“We did what you need to do to win tight games down the stretch,” coach Scott Stratton said. “Late in the game we knocked down free throws, we rebounded the ball, and we defended shooters on the perimeter.”
Tim Wojtysiak and Nate Hinckley accounted for seven and five points, respectively, as Newark Valley worked a 19-10 advantage in the opening period, but Jackson Langstaff pumped out nine points in Q2 to close the gap to 29-25. Cooper Davis accounted for all 10 NV points in the second.
“There was a stretch during the second quarter when Sidney clearly had more energy than we did,” Stratton said. “Probably everyone in the gym saw it. But the boys hung tough in the second half and came out with another victory on consecutive nights.”
Green and Veruto canned one 3-pointer each in the third quarter, but it wasn’t enough to keep Sidney at bay.
Davis recorded a double-double, scoring 16 points and pulling down 10 rebounds.
“Cooper rebounded the ball like a beast tonight,” Stratton said.
Green added 12 points and six boards, and Wojtysiak chipped in with 11 points and six boards. Green connected for a pair of 3-pointers and went 4-for-4 at the free throw line, and Wojtysiak was 3-for-3 at the stripe.
Veruto added nine points and was 4-for-4 at the line. Hinckley added seven points and Gabe Benjamin tacked on a basket.
The Cardinals connected for five threes and shot 80 percent (12-for-15) at the free throw line.
“We shot the ball well from the free throw line all night, but late in the fourth Tristan and Austin made two big free throws each, and Nate, Tim, and Cooper helped secure that win by battling for rebounds with a team that was relentless on the boards,” Stratton said.
“Tim's energy in our pressure defense was key tonight, and he had a huge rebound in the last possession of the game that sealed the deal for us.”
Langstaff hit a trio of shots from beyond the arc and finished with a team-high 15 points while Deon Taylor had 14 points.
“Up until this point, Sidney has probably played the toughest schedule of any team I've seen,” Stratton said. “Their record is not indicative of their talents and abilities. They've played a brutal schedule thus far. We're definitely happy to walk away from this game with a W. Our guys earned it.”
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IN PHOTO: Cooper Davis. … TCSR STOCK PHOTO.
