WHS Tigers Go to 9 & 1

Friday - January 15: Reaching the mid-point of the season the Tigers go to 9 & 1 on the season defeating visiting Jackson Milton 82 - 60. Their only lost of the season was a heart breaker by only two points to McDonald and that was at the buzzer.

Although Wellsville never trailed in the game the Blue Jays kept within a respectful distance through three quarters of the game. They were only trailing by four points at the end of both the first and second quarter. Coach Thompson remarked after the game he was not holding them back. From our vantage point from what we saw in the first half Jackson Milton was slowing things down to take the Tigers out of their game. It worked for three and half quarters and then, as WHS SS announcer Joe Surace said, the Tigers put on a basketball clinic in the last half of the fourth.

The Tigers only had five turn overs for the night but Thompson remarked there was no pressure from Jackson Milton. Trying to get them out of their zone defense Thompson had the orange & black freeze the ball in the closing minutes of the second quarter. The Blue Jays wouldn't bite and just sat back around the key waiting. With five seconds to go Mike Johnston missed a three pointer only to have Dalrymple tip it in for two at end of the half.

Wellsville had five players to score in the double figures. Mike Johnston was high point man for WHS with 21, followed by DeSarro with 19. Getting into foul trouble early Jeremy Carter rode the bench for nearly two quarters. Nunzio Lombardozzi & Johnston had two three pointers a piece and DeShon Pullie had another one. All three are listed in the Area 3-point Leaders.

Thompson said the Tigers "got to want to do it. They're better athletes than anyone they played". We agree and believe the Tigers do want to do it. They're awesome when they want to be and we think they want to be.

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P.S. Forgot to mention the Reserves also won against the Blue Jays 53 - 33. The Tigers return to action next Wednesday, January 20, traveling to Beaver Local.