“Basketball is a long season…”
From Staff Reports,
PENN YAN — A strong third quarter proved to be the difference as the Penn Yan Mustangs defeated the Wellsville Lions, 34–23, in a girls varsity basketball matchup Friday night, January 2.
Wellsville kept the game tight early, trailing just 7–4 after the first quarter and taking a brief lead in the second behind solid defensive pressure. The Lions outscored Penn Yan 9–2 in the second quarter and went into halftime down just one, 9–11.
Penn Yan seized momentum after the break, however, erupting for 15 points in the third quarter to open up a double-digit advantage. The Mustangs followed with 10 more points in the fourth to secure the victory.
Wellsville struggled offensively, shooting 9-for-42 from the field and 2-for-24 from beyond the arc. Turnovers also played a role, as the Lions committed 23 giveaways compared to Penn Yan’s 20.
Despite the loss, several Lions turned in notable performances:
- Jaden Dunbar (#25) led Wellsville with 8 points, adding 6 rebounds, 3 assists, and 3 steals.
- Caelyn Stevens (#3) scored 7 points, including a three-pointer, while contributing 3 steals and strong perimeter defense.
- Emily Stuck (#15) matched Stevens with 7 points and pulled down 4 rebounds, providing interior presence.
- Lydia Kaye (#22) and Addison Hennessy (#14) each contributed on the boards as Wellsville outrebounded Penn Yan 25–22.
Penn Yan finished with balanced scoring, shooting 13-for-38 from the field and converting 5-of-10 from the free-throw line in the win.
Wellsville will look to build on its strong first half performance as the Lions continue league play. Head Coach Toney took the defeat in stride:
“Some losses are easier to find a silver lining than others, and tonight our play on the defensive end was the best we’ve been. I thought Jaden Dunbar really set a tone for us that Emily Stuck and Lydia Kaye followed. On the offensive end we missed some open shots and turned the ball over too much. Basketball is a long season and we still have time to clean that stuff up”
