STAC BOYS BASKETBALL: OWEGO FENDS OFF ITHACA, REPEATS AS STAC METRO CHAMP (2019-02-05)

Tioga County Sports Report
ITHACA  - Owego fought off a monster comeback effort to defeat Ithaca, 70-69, here Tuesday. That win, coupled with M-E's 73-53 loss to Johnson City, allowed the Indians to repeat as the STAC Metro champions.

The Indians took a 12-point lead into the final period, but was outscored, 25-14.  Brett Avery knocked down four 3-pointers in the fourth quarter to spearhead the Little Red's late charge while Mamadou Bah and Ismail Abdur-Razzaq added one trey apiece.

"Ithaca hit a meaningless three at the buzzer, but give them all the  credit for coming back on us," said Owego head coach Chris Evans, who called the rally an "absolutely torrid comeback."

In the first quarter, Kobe Bogart drained a pair of threes while Christian Sage and Evan Hamed popped one apiece, offsetting 11 points from Isaac Butler to take a 21-13 lead.

Owego would hold Butler to five points the remainder of the evening while Bogart hit for two more threes in the second quarter and scored 13 of the Indians' 17 points as they built a 38-28 advantage at the half.

Bogart and Brendan Evans added one trey apiece in the third quarter, and Bogart and sage scored nine and six points, respectively, to give Owego a 56-44 lead heading into the fourth.

Bogart finished with a game-high 34 points, Sage scored 17, Mike Wasyln had 11, and Hamed and Evans added five and three points, respectively.

"Sage had another strong outing with some timely buckets and Wasyln was a stud on the glass at the end," coach Evans said. "Free throws by Sage, Hamed and Bogart sealed the deal."

The trio made two foul shots apiece in the final stanza.

"We played without Rob Merrill, who injured his ankle in the Vestal game," coach Evans said. "We certainly need his defensive tenacity as we move along."

Avery led Ithaca with 17 points, Butler contributed 16, Abdur-Razzaq had 12, and Brett Haverlock scored 10.