ATHENS JVs POST PAIR OF BIG WINS TO IMPROVE TO 4-

By: Tim Birney  /  December 18, 2021

ATHENS — Athens jumped out to big first-half leads, and posted big wins over Northeast Bradford and Canton Thursday and Saturday to improve to 4-0 on the season in NTL junior varsity basketball action.

Thursday
Athens 50, NEB 18
Athens used a stifling defense to build a 24-point halftime cushion on its way to a 50-18 win over Northeast Bradford Thursday.

Kolsen Keathley scored four points and Korey Miller knocked down a 3-pointer to help Athens to a 12-4 lead after the first eight minutes.

Connor Mosher, Jace Babcock, who had a rare four-point play, and Nicholas Jacob scored four points apiece in the second quarter to fuel an 18-2 blitz that gave the junior Wildcats a 30-6 halftime lead.

Athens kept up the pace in the third quarter with a 13-4 burst, keyed by five points from Chris Mitchell, a 3-pointer by Mosher and a three-point play by Miller. Athens led 43-10 entering the final eight minutes.

Mitchell led a balanced Athens attack with eight points, while Mosher scored seven points, and Miller contributed six points, three rebounds, four assists, and four steals.

Keathley and Jacob scored six points apiece in the win, while Babcock and Xavier Watson chipped in with four points, and Peter Jones grabbed three boards.

Saturday
Athens 50, Canton 30
At Canton, Athens raced out to a double-digit lead early, and cruised to a 50-30 win over Canton Saturday night.

Chris Mitchell and Connor Mosher, who drained a pair of 3-pointers, scored six points apiece, and Korey Miller knocked down a trey and scored five points in the first quarter to fuel a 19-7 run in the first eight minutes.

Miller canned his second 3-pointer of the game and scored seven points in a 16-7 run that extended the junior Wildcats' lead to 35-14 at the half.

Xavier Watson scored four points in the third quarter as Athens added to its lead, and took a 42-19 lead into the final eight minutes.

Miller led Athens with 12 points and four rebounds, while Mitchell had 10 points and four boards, and Mosher had six points and three assists

Jack Cheresnowsky contributed five points, three rebounds, and three steals in the win, while Jase Babcock had five points and three steals, Watson scored five points, and Troy Rosenbloom hauled down four rebounds.

Athens, now 4-0, hosts Sayre Thursday.