By CHRIS BROOKS
JASPER — Both Houghton Academy and Jasper-Troupsburg tilted the balance of power across the first half of play, with the visiting Panthers rebounding in the second quarter to lay claim on a one-point lead going into the break.
It would provide a chance to establish even more momentum, while for the host Wildcats: the chance to perform a flip of the script.
In the third quarter, that same script was indeed flipped by the team in white and black, as they reversed Houghton Academy’s second quarter outscoring and used it in their favor during the third to regain traction on the game’s lead, holding it the rest of the way while under duress from the Panthers defense to finish up a close 43-33 win on Friday.
Jasper-Troupsburg was clicking on both fronts across the first quarter to set up shop. On offense, the Wildcats collected three triples from three different shooters to establish their ground from outside, while the defense, in turn, allowed just two shots from the field by Houghton Academy — both by Josh Davidson inside and out.
WIth a 13-7 lead to make up, the Panthers (2-2) reversed course and flipped the momentum into their favor going into the break, as Davidson continued to chip in from all fronts alongside a Jack Prentice three-pointer to help complete a win of the second quarter and a 19-18 lead over the Wildcats at the break.
But in the second half, the Wildcats would find their groove once and for all, behind the emergence of Landon Zver, who posted 16 of his 19 game-high points all in the last 16 minute session to turn the tide back into their favor and claim the victory that awaited in the end.
Despite the defeat, Houghton Academy saw another breakout performance from Davidson develop, as he posted 18 team-leading points. Prentice ended with seven points, while James Adenuga and Jack Qi rounded off the scoring with five, and three points each.
The Panthers are back home after the weekend, as they host Friendship/Scio in a 7:30 p.m. tip-off on Monday.
Houghton Academy 7 12 5 9 – 33
Jasper-Troupsburg 13 5 12 10 – 43
HOUGHTON ACADEMY: Jack Prentice 1 4-4 7, Josh Davidson 8 0-0 18, James Adenuga 2 1-4 5, Jack Qi 1 0-0 3. Totals: 12 5-9 33.
JASPER-TROUPSBURG: Braylon Lawson 1 0-2 3, James Ainsworth 3 0-0 7, Jackson Hayes 0 1-2 1, Landon Zver 7 3-6 19, Jacoby VanGorden 2 0-2 4, Matthew Foster 2 0-0 4. Totals: 15 4-12 43.
3-point goals: HA 4 (Davidson 2, Prentice, Qi), J-T 4 (Zver 2, Lawson, Ainsworth).
Total Fouls: HA 11, J-T 10. Fouled out: None.
Hammondsport 54, Andover/Whitesville 25
HAMMONDSPORT — Nearly dead even playing ground was constructed right out of the gate Saturday afternoon in Hammondsport, as the host Lady Lakers and visiting Andover/Whitesville traded back-and-forth pleasantries across a first quarter that saw a narrow lead for one team develop going into the next frame.
With the momentum in hand, the Lady Lakers would take full advantage of it to capitalize on a big second quarter to push their lead out over Andover/Whitesville insurmountably. Danica Dresser was a big reason behind some of that big success that Hammondsport was able to muster, scoring 18 game-high points, as they went on to march towards a 54-25 win.
Propelled by a pair of buckets from both Grace Fry and Olivia Waters, Andover/Whitesville (1-3) was able to keep pace right alongside Hammondsport across the first quarter — a frame that saw the Lady Lakers, behind Dresser, take the narrow 13-10 lead going into what was a massive second quarter run the hosts would make.
Five different Lady Lakers would all record at least a single basket to ignite the offense on all different angles, including a three-ball each from both LaZell Locey and the second of three triples from Sam Pratt, as the Lady Lakers accounted for a 20-8 run of the visitors in black to put the pedal down to the floor on a 33-18 halftime lead.
If there was any doubt regarding their advantage going into the second half, none would remain after the third quarter behind their stout defensive showing, holding Andover/Whitesville to just one point in the midst of their 11-1 run to further cement the victory for good.
Waters was Andover/Whitesville’s leading scorer at the end of the battle, posting 11 team-high points. Following behind was Grace Fry, who concluded with six points, while Makaila Brewster and Graci Lewis-Ellison rounded off the scoring with five and three points, respectively.
On Monday, Andover/Whitesville will hop back on the bus and head for the Reilly Center on the grounds of St. Bonaventure University, where they will get ready for a 5:45 p.m. tip-off slated against Arkport/Canaseraga.
Andover/Whitesville 10 8 1 6 – 25
Hammondsport 13 20 11 10 – 54
ANDOVER/WHITESVILLE: Graci Lewis-Ellison 1 0-2 3, Grace Fry 3 0-2 6, Makaila Brewster 2 0-0 5, Olivia Waters 4 3-8 11. Totals: 10 3-12 25.
HAMMONDSPORT: LaZell Locey 6 0-0 13, Arielle Szathmary 1 0-0 2, Danica Dresser 8 2-2 18, Sam Pratt 5 0-0 13, Nicole Pratt 2 2-3 6, Alexis Hurd 1 0-0 2. Totals: 23 4-5 54.
3-point goals: A/W 2 (Lewis-Ellison, Brewster), Hammondsport 4 (S. Pratt 3, Locey).
Total Fouls: A/W 3, Hammondsport 14. Fouled out: None.
Andover/Whitesville 72, Alfred-Almond 34
ALMOND — It was clear that after Wednesday’s home loss to Cuba-Rushford and before they hit the bus and visit the Reilly Center at St. Bonaventure after the weekend, Andover/Whitesville’s road trip to Alfred-Almond on Friday was one that they wanted to have.
It was not an easy task by any means. Throughout the entire first half, it was as close quarters of a battle you could imagine. But it was one that Andover/Whitesville managed to construct a lead to pioneer the second half with.
The first half served as a tremor. But when the second half came, a full-blown eruption stirred.
With Alfred-Almond remaining well within reach, Andover/Whitesville decided to take matters into their own hands once and for all, especially in the fourth quarter. Leading by 11 going into the last eight minutes, Brody Vance and Colton Calladine simply could not be stopped, as the two sharpshooters combined to record 41 second half points to propel the team towards victory in dominant fashion, rolling to a 72-34 win over the Eagles.
“Jerry (Jusianiec) had his guys ready to play, and I think we definitely underestimated their quick hands and tough defense. But tonight was certainly a game that was much-needed to win tonight,” said Andover/Whitesville coach Jimmy Joyce. “Alfred-Almond showed what they were capable of in the first half. Once we kind of amped up our pressure defensively, and moved the ball offensively, we finally found our footing. Brody exploding for 27 in the second half was huge, and Colton turned it around nicely after he wasn’t really his normal self in the first half.”
Led by an array of scorers all finding their way through to the basket, Andover/Whitesville (3-2) was able to grab an early upper hand to control against Alfred-Almond through the game’s opening quarter before both teams were dead even across the next frame of play. That would allow the visitors in black to remain in the driver’s seat with a 21-17 lead going into the second half.
A lead that was pressured by the Eagles, but never relinquished.
In the second half, Andover/Whitesville made sure it remained intact with the rise of Brody Vance and Colton Calladine, as the team’s two hot hands from all angles on the floor came together to record 40 of the team’s 51 second half points, with 27 of them belonging to Vance. With an 11-point lead going into the fourth quarter, Andover/Whitesville put together a big finish to ensure their night would end in a win, as they outscored Alfred-Almond with a 31-4 run that immediately allowed them to speed away for good.
Vance would front the Andover/Whitesville attack with his 30 game-high points. Calladine followed behind him with 16 points, while Vincent Joyce chipped in with 12 points of his own.
“I thought Vinny and Ethan (Warriner) both had one of their best games this season. Jake (Mattison) also continues to improve each night, which is great to see,” Joyce said. “If we can keep getting contributions from everybody, I think we’ll be just fine. We definitely have a lot of work to do still to get to where we want to be, but the season is still pretty young. We have yet to put a full four quarters together. Once we get there, anything is possible.”
Andover/Whitesville has a big night ahead of them after the weekend on Monday, as they now travel to the Reilly Center on the grounds of St. Bonaventure University, where they will meet up with Arkport/Canaseraga for a 7:15 p.m. tip-off following the girls matchup between both schools at 5:45 p.m.
Andover/Whitesville 13 8 20 31 – 72
Alfred-Almond 9 8 13 4 – 34
ANDOVER/WHITESVILLE: James Miller-Young 0 1-2 1, Derek Perkins 3 0-7 6, Jake Mattison 0 0-2 0, Ethan Warriner 2 3-4 7, Vincent Joyce 4 2-4 12, Brody Vance 12 3-4 30, Colton Calladine 7 1-6 16. Totals: 28 10-29 72.
ALFRED-ALMOND: Jackson Jusianiec 5 5-6 16, Sam Bensley 3 0-0 6, Liam Ruthven 5 2-2 12. Totals: 13 7-8 34.
3-point goals: A/W 6 (Vance 3, Joyce 2, Calladine), A-A 1 (Jusianiec).
Total Fouls: A/W 10, A-A 24. Fouled out: Washburn (A-A).
