Hornets claim NTL Large School title with win over Towanda
By: Ed Weaver | NTL Sports | February 12, 2019 | Photo courtesy Brian Fees
The Wellsboro Varsity Boys Basketball team won the 2018-19 NTL Large School Division championship with a 64-36 win over Towanda on Monday, February 11.
It was the Hornets' third straight championship (co-champions in 2016-17) and fourth championship in 7 years.
"It was one of our goals coming into the year and it feels good to get it again," senior Brandyn Tuttle said.
"It's how I wanted to end my career," senior Andrew Brelo said. "Now it's time for districts."
Wellsboro started the game off with a 16-6 first quarter lead then outscored the Black Knights 17-8 in the second to lead 33-14 at halftime. Unlike the last time the Hornet played Towanda during Wellsboro's Senior Night, the Hornets this time kept their turnovers to a minimum. The Hornets started the second half with another 17-8 quarter to pull ahead 50-22.
Both teams scored 14 points each in the final quarter.
Tuttle led all scorers with 20 points and grabbed 13 rebounds for his 34th career double-double. Brelo and junior Ty Morral had 10 points each, senior Hunter Brown had 8 points, senior Tanner Button and sophomore Joseph Grab added 6 points each, and seniors Holden Kennedy and Cam Tennis pitched in 2 points each.
Brown added 7 rebounds, Button had 5 rebounds, 3 assists, and 3 steals, Grab added 7 assists to his point total, and Tennis had 2 rebounds and a block.
Wellsboro started out the night by rallying late for a 36-33 win over Towanda after leading 23-7 midway through the second quarter and being outscored 26-13 the rest of the game. Freshman Isaac Keane led Wellsboro with 12 and junior Karter Witmer had 9.
The win improves the Hornets' record to 19-2 overall, their 19th straight win, and 15-0 in the NTL Large School Division. The team will be back in action for the final time in the regular season against Troy later this evening.
Ed Weaver is the owner of Circle W Sports in Wellsboro, PA, is the Sports Director for The Home Page Network and the creator of WellsboroAthletics.com and WellsboroFootball.com. You can follow him on Twitter or friend him on Facebook.
