Emily Stuck, pictured, leads with 11 rebounds and 9 points
From Staff Reports, photo by Ella Green
The Wellsville Lady Lions pulled off a thrilling last-moment victory Friday night, edging the Dansville Lady Mustangs 39–38 in a tightly contested varsity girls basketball matchup at Wellsville.
Dansville controlled much of the early action, taking a slim 9–7 lead after the first quarter and extending it to 20–12 at halftime. The Lady Mustangs continued to press in the third quarter, but Wellsville began to find its rhythm, outscoring Dansville 15–13 to trim the deficit heading into the final frame.
The fourth quarter delivered all the drama fans could ask for. Wellsville surged with a 12-point effort in the final eight minutes, leaning on strong defense, rebounding, and clutch free-throw shooting to erase the remaining gap. Dansville stayed close with timely baskets of its own, setting up a tense finish that came down to the final moments.
Emily Stuck (#15) led the Lady Lions with 9 points and a dominant presence on the boards, hauling in a game-high 11 rebounds. Caelyn Stevens (#3) added 7 points, while Lydia Kaye (#22) chipped in another 7 as Wellsville spread the scoring across the lineup. Reegan Perkins (#11) contributed 6 points, including a pair of three-pointers that proved critical in keeping the Lions within striking distance.
Wellsville’s advantage on the glass played a major role in the win, as the Lady Lions outrebounded Dansville 32–22. The Lions also converted at the free-throw line when it mattered most, going 9-for-12 from the stripe compared to Dansville’s 5-for-10.
In the closing seconds, Wellsville made the decisive plays to secure the one-point victory, sending the home crowd into celebration and capping off a hard-fought comeback. Coach Drew Toney was pleased with the performance:
“This was one of those true team wins. Every player that touched the court contributed at different times. Being down for a long stretch of the game, Alexa Hennessy stepping up to slow down Hamsher in the second half changed the entire game. Emily Stuck was our constant all night, she lead us in points and rebounds and she’s one that gives 110% every second she’s on the court. She hit the big go ahead three late, but she was also the loudest communicator on the defensive end to close out the game. Very excited to build on this one.”
The 39–38 win stands as one of the Lady Lions’ most exciting finishes of the season, showcasing their resilience, balance, and poise under pressure.
