TIOGA JV HOLDS OFF WAVERLY, 48-4

By: Tim Birney | Waverly Athletics | February 20, 2021 | Photo courtesy David Alliger

WAVERLY — Tioga built a seven-point lead entering the fourth quarter, and held on for a 48-44 win over Waverly here Saturday afternoon in IAC junior varsity boys basketball action.

“I have to give Tioga a ton of credit,” said Waverly JV coach Michael Croft. “They seemed quicker to the ball, and it looked like this game meant more to them for the majority of the game.

“I also need to give credit to my kids in being down 10 in the final minutes and cut the lead to one with about a minute left,” added Croft. “Unfortunately, all our mistakes early on were just too much to overcome.”

Gavin Fisher scored six points, and Shea Bailey added four points for Tioga, but Waverly had four different players put their name in the scoring column, led by Nehemiah Anthony’s four points, and the game was tied 10-10 after the first eight minutes.

Bryce Bailey and Valentino Rossi scored six points apiece in the second quarter for Tioga, to offset five points by Waverly’s Keaton Anderson and four by Nate DeLill. The junior Tigers led 24-21 at the half.

Bryce Bailey canned a pair of 3-pointers, and Karson Sindoni added five points for Tioga in the third quarter as Tioga stretched its lead to 38-32 heading into the final eight minutes.

Isaiah Bretz buried a trio of 3-pointers in the fourth quarter for the junior Wolverines, and Jay Pipher added four points, but Sindoni and Fisher scored four points apiece in the final stanza to help preserve the win.

Bryce Bailey led Tioga with 12 points, including three 3-pointers, while Fisher and Sindoni scored 11 points apiece, Valentino added eight points, and Shea Bailey chipped in with six points.

Bretz led Waverly with 11 points, seven rebounds, and two assists, while Anthony scored 11 points, DeLill had eight points and four rebounds, Anderson had seven points and two assists, and Pipher chipped in with four points and three steals.