ATHENS RIDES DEFENSE AGAIN; ROLLS TO 56-21 WIN OVER NP-MANSFIELD

By: Tim Birney  /  January 21, 2022

MANSFIELD — Athens limited North Penn-Mansfield to just two first-half field goals, and built a 19-point lead on its way to a 56-21 win over North Penn-Mansfield her Friday night in NTL girls basketball action.

“I thought we played a great team game, especially on the defensive end,” said Athens coach Brian Miller. “We played very physical defense on our end  

“Mansfield played a physical game, too,” noted Miller. “The only thing we didn't do great tonight was make some open looks, but that's part of the game. Sometimes they fall, sometimes they don't.

“But the rest of our game was top-notch,” added Miller. “It was nice to see us play this way two games in row.”

Senior Caydence Macik scored five points in the first quarter, including an old-fashioned three-point play late in the stanza to help the Lady Wildcats to an 11-2 lead.

Junior Emma Bronson had five points, including a conventional three-point play, in the second quarter, and freshman Addy Wheeler canned a 3-pointer to fuel a 14-4 run that extended the Athens lead to 25-6 at the half.

Macik scored nine more points in the third quarter, including her third three-point play of the game, and Bronson added four points in a 16-11 advantage in the stanza to help the Lady Wildcats to a 41-17 lead entering the final eight minutes.

Junior Karlee Bartlow had six points — on a 3-pointer and a three-point play — in the fourth quarter, and Macik canned a 3-pointer and scored five points in a 15-4 run in the final eight minutes.

Macik led Athens with 22 points, including a 5-for-5 effort at the free-throw line , six rebounds, three steals, and one blocked shot, while Bronson had 13 points, four steals, and one blocked shot, and Karlee Bartlow had 10 points and five boards.

Wheeler added six points, eight rebounds, four assists, and seven steals in the win, while senior Olivia Bartlow hauled down 10 rebounds, and blocked two shots, and sophomore Mya Thompson and junior Natalee Watson each had three rebounds, and one blocked shot.

Ella Swingle led NP-M with five points.

Athens, now 8-3, travels to Benton Saturday. The JV game tips off at noon.