NEB FENDS OFF ATHENS, 53-46
By: Chris Manning | AthensWildcats.com | December 20, 2021 | Photo courtesy Chris Manning
ROME — For a little bit in the fourth quarter, it was looking like
shades of NEB's recent loss to Towanda on Friday. The Panthers had seen a
big lead dwindle down to a 1-point deficit, but this time they
performed in the clutch, scoring seven straight points to pull out the
52-46 win in NTL girls' basketball action Monday."
"There was
more than a little shades," said NEB coach Ben Beebe. "There was way
too many coincidence there that we didn't like, but the girls held on,
and came through, and still continued to play hard. We've been trying to
work on that constantly. That's a huge deal for us, trying to close out
games, and we're starting, so, hopefully, the next couple of games,
we'll have that mastered."
Maisie Neuber finished with 25
points, six boards, and four steals for NEB, while Alena Beebe had a
strong game, scoring 17 points on 5-for-12 from 3-point range.
"She
shot really well today, which really helps," Beebe said about Alena's
performance. "She's a really good shooter, And, you can have her and
Maisie at the same time on fire, it's hard for an opponent.""¨
Kayleigh
Thoman returned from injury to chip in with six points, while Julia
Brown added three points, and 10 boards. Kate O'Connor had one point
with a team-high 11 boards.
It was another slow start for Athens, but coach Brian Miller liked the fight he saw in his team."¨
"˜It's
tough to come back, but I give the girls credit, they fought," he
said. "They played good enough defense to keep it close, we actually
took a lead at 46-45, I believe. And then (Julia Brown), she made a nice
three-pointer in the corner. And then we just didn't execute on the
offensive end down the stretch, but kudos to them.
"They're
good, they're one of the area's best teams, and so I'm disappointed we
lost, but I'm also happy that we only, you know, by six points, and it
was closer than that without the fouls down the stretch," added
Miller."¨
"That gives us some confidence going to play Towanda," Miller said. "But, again, we've got to play 32 minutes, we can't play 26 or 25, and have a lot of turnovers. We just have to play better, more consistently."
Karlee Bartlow had a team-high 16 points to lead the Wildcats, including three 3-pointers, while Addy Wheeler netted 12 on four 3-pointers, and Caydence Macik notched 10. Mya Thompson chipped in with eight points.
NEB jumped out to an 18-13 first quarter lead behind nine points from Beebe, all on 3-pointers, and seven from Neuber. The Panthers tacked on 15 more points in the second quarter, thanks to three 3-pointers, two of them from Beebe, to take a 33-23 lead.
Bartlow had eight first half points to lead the Wildcats.
In the third quarter, NEB's offense cooled, allowing Athens to chip away, and even tie the game up at 35-all at one point. The Panthers scored the final six points of the quarter to take a 41-35 lead into the fourth.
Barlow and Thompson combined for nine points to lead the Wildcats, while Neuber carried NEB, scoring six of her team's eight points in the frame.
In the fourth, Athens closed again, this time taking a 46-45 lead off a Wheeler 3-ball with 4:45 left in the game. "¨
Then,
on NEB's next possession, Brown answered with a 3-ball of her own,
giving them a 48-46 lead with just over four minutes to play."¨
The
Wildcats would get a chance to tie with two free throws at the 2:45,
but they were both missed. NEB then ran clock, getting it to under a
minute when the Wildcats had a chance to tie with 32 seconds to play,
but the shot was off."¨
She hit both, effectively ending the game.
Athens, now 2-1, returns to action at Waverly Dec. 28 in the opening round of the Valley Christmas Tournament.
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