Turak Leads Nanticoke To Victory Over Valley West

It was a back and forth affair between Valley West and Nanticoke. In the end, it came to down to the Trojans go-to guys in Gavin Turak and Jaidyn Johnson. Turak had a game high 23 points and Jaidyn Johnson added 19 as Nanticoke defeated Valley West 65-60 at home. The victory is their second straight victory after losing to Delaware Valley on Saturday.

The first quarter early on was a back and forth affair but Gavin Turak hit a pair of field goals to make it 8-4 in favor of Nanticoke. However, Valley West answered back with a three pointer by Emmanuel Lewis and a three pointer by Zach Konopke give the Spartans a 10-9 lead. Konopke added a basket to increase the lead to 12-9. However, the Trojans answered with a three pointer by RJ Brogan and a basket by Ethan Spencer. Konopke added a free throw to make it 15-13 at the end of the first quarter.

Konopke hit a three pointer to give Valley West the lead then Kaden Dittus added a basket to make it a three point game at 18-15. The Spartans made it a five point game with a three pointer by Lamar Weatherspoon. Nanticoke answered back with a free throw and three pointer by Turak then a three point play by Jaidyn Johnson gave the Trojans a 23-21 lead. Johnson added another basket to make it a four point lead for Nanticoke. However, a basket by Weatherspoon and two free throws by Konopke and three free throws from Will Wojciechowski gave the Spartans the lead but before halftime, Johnson hit a basket to tie the game up at 28 as we hit halftime. Johnson started off the second half with four consecutive points. However, the Spartans answered and took the lead with three pointers by Lewis and Konopke alongside a pair of free throws by Konopke. Liam Mullery tied the game up with a basket for Nanticoke and took the lead with a basket by Ibn Jordan-Thomas. Turak increased the lead to three but a foul on Nanticoke followed by a technical resulted in four free throws. Lewis hit three of four free throws to tie the game at 40. Turak and Wojciechowski traded three pointers and the Spartans took the lead on a pair of free throws by Konopke at 45-43 as the third quarter came to an end. Mullery gave Nanticoke a lead early in the fourth with a three pointer. However, both teams traded the lead until Gavin Turak made it a four point game with a pair of free throw and a three point play. Valley West ended up cutting Nanticoke's lead to one at points in the game. Late in the game, a technical foul was assessed to Valley West. Turak and Johnson combined to make three of four free throws to make it a four point game. However, a turnover resulted in a pair of free throws by Wojciechowski. In the inbounds play, the Spartans pressed and forced Nanticoke to go out of bounds to get the ball back. However, they were unable to keep the ball inbounds and possession went back to Nanticoke. Mullery hit a pair of free throws to seal the game away as Nanticoke took a 65-60 victory at home. Zach Konopke added a game high 23 points and Will Wojciechowski added 13. The Trojans play at home against Crestwood on Tuesday. The Spartans go to Wyoming Seminary on Wednesday.