Tioga County Sports ReportTIOGA CENTER — S-VE built an 11-point lead, but Tioga stormed back in the second half for a 44-35 win here Tuesday night in IAC South Small School Division basketball action.
Jackson Bennett knocked down a 3-pointer in the first quarter to help the Panthers to a 7-6 lead after the opening eight minutes.
Bennett and Christopher Merrick each canned 3-pointer and scored five points apiece in the second quarter, and Keith Hills added a 3-pointer to fuel a 15-5 run that gave S-VE a 22-11 lead at the break.
In the third quarter, Tioga's James Miller knocked down a pair of 3-pointers and scored eight points, and Trystan Barto canned a 3-pointer to lead the Tigers in an 11-6 run to close the gap to 28-22 entering the final eight minutes.
Miller drained two more 3-pointers and scored seven points in the fourth quarter, and Barto added five points, including a 3-pointer, to fuel a 22-7 game-closing blitz.
Tioga, which was 1 of 9 at the free throw line in the first three quarters, made 7 of 11 free throws down the stretch to nail down the win.
Merrick led S-VE with nine points, while Bennett had eight points, Hills and Clayton Bower each added six points, and Nevin Mack chipped in with four points.
Miller led Tioga with 15 points, including four 3-pointers, and Barto added 11 points, including a trio of 3-pointers.
S-VE, now 0-16, hosts Tioga Wednesday in its season finale.
