NTL GIRLS BASKETBALL: BARRY, MILLER LEAD ATHENS TO 37-34 WIN OVER WELLSBORO (2019-01-13)

Valley Sports Report
WELLSBORO - Athens used a 14-1 run in the first half, triggered a 3-pointer by junior Haley Barry, to build a double-digit lead, then made three free throws in the final seconds to pull out a 37-34 win over Wellsboro here Saturday afternoon in a key NTL Large School match-up.

Athens coach Brian Miller said the win was a total team effort.

"It was a total team defensive effort, but individually Avery Priester did a great job on their high scoring guard (Emma) Poirier," he said.

"Haley Barry and Megan Collins stepped up and hit some timely shots for us," added Miller. And, Kayleigh Miller made some huge foul shots to give us the lead and keep the lead."

Barry's 3-pointer gave Athens a 9-7 lead with 25 seconds remaining in the first quarter, and sophomore Kayleigh Miller opened the second quarter with a bucket on the offense boards for an 11-7 lead.

After the teams exchanged free throws, freshman Caydence Macik scored in transition to give Athens a 14-8 lead and spark an 8-0 spurt inside the the Lady Wildcats 14-1 run.

Sophomore Megan Collins knocked down a 15-foot jumper, and senior Sophie Adams capped the rally with a pair of free throws and a lay-up to make it 20-8 with 2 1/2 minutes left in first half.

Emma Poirer snapped Wellsboro's scoring drought with four free throws, but Barry knocked down a long jumper to make it 22-12 with 55 seconds left in the half.

The Lady Green Hornets trimmed the deficit to six points, at 22-16, early in the third quarter, but Barry knocked down another long jumper off a feed from Adams, who had grabbed an offensive rebound to push lead to 24-16.

Wellsboro tried the lead to four, at 24-20, with 3:10 remaining in the half, but a free throw by sophomore Rachel Stevens, and a long jumper by Collins pushed the lead back to nine points, at 29-20, entering the final eight minutes.

Miller scored on a lay-up off a feed from junior Avery Priester to extend the lead to 31-20 with 7 minutes remaining in the game, then Wellsboro turned up the pressure and it produced a 14-3 blitz that tied the game at 34-34 with 20 seconds remaining.

After an Athens timeout, Miller missed a jumper, but retrieved her own rebound and was fouled with 7.2 seconds remaining. Miller made the first and missed the second, but Macik grabbed the offensive board and fed it back to Miller, who was fouled again with 1.7 seconds remaining.

Miller again made one of two to push the lead to 36-34. Wellsboro's chances of a game-tying or game-winning shot went by the boards with a turnover on the in-bounds pass.

Macik was fouled on the ensuing in-bounds play and cashed in on 1 of 2 free throws to provide the final margin.

Barry led Athens with a career-high 13 points and had three rebounds, while Miller had nine points, six rebounds, four assists, and three steals, Macik added six points, seven rebounds and three blocked shots, Collins chipped in with four points.

Adams grabbed eight rebounds in the win, and Priester dished out five assists.

Poirer led Wellsboro with 14 points and Catherine Brough added nine - all in the fourth quarter.

The Lady Wildcats, now 6-5, host Williamson Tuesday.

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IN PHOTO: Athens junior Haley Barry.