Hornets Drop Season Opener To Montoursville
By: Ed Weaver | NTL Sports | December 5, 2023 | Photo courtesy Lance Larcom/ntwsportsreport.com
The Wellsboro Boys Basketball team dropped their season-opening game to Montoursville at home on Monday, December 4.
Wellsboro got off to a slow start, falling behind 14-8 after the opening quarter, and trailed by 21-8 early into the second. By the half the Warriors, thanks to a 22-point 2nd quarter, built a 36-17 lead. The Hornets adjusted at halftime as the went on a 20-11 run in the 3rd.
The Hornets trailed 47-27 midway through the 3rd quarter, but closed out the quarter, and started the 4th, on a 14-0 run to cut Montoursville's lead down to 8 points. Montoursville then scored 4 quick points to break the Hornets' momentum, then got Wellsboro into foul trouble in a 17-9 4th quarter run to push their advantage back to 18 points, as they won 64-46.
Senior Hayes Campbell led all scorers with 24 points and went 10-for-12 at the foul line. He also grabbed 7 boards and made 2 assists and blocked a shot. Senior Caden Smith and sophomore Luke Rothermel had 7 points apiece, junior Mitchel Lechler added 4 points, and senior Ian Hoose and sophomore Marek Mascho chipped in 2 points each. Smith added 5 rebounds, 4 assists and a steal, Rothermel grabbed 4 boards and Lechler and Hoose also grabbed 3 rebounds each. Lechler also blocked a shot.
Quinn Ranck led Montoursville with 20 points, including hitting 4 of the Warriors' 9 three-pointers. Bryce Eberhart finished with 12 points and Jimmy Mussina and Shea Ulmer added 9 points apiece.
Montoursville also won the JV game 33-27. Sophomore Aaron Kirk led Wellsboro with 8 points and sophomore Jonathan Carl added 7 points.
The loss starts out Wellsboro's season at 0-1. The team is back on the court at Williamson on Wednesday.
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.
