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Collins leads Hornets to key win over Pirates

WILLIAMSBURG — Juniata Valley’s Cameron Collins had 26 points through three quarters against Williamsburg, but when Trevor Butler scored to open the fourth, the Blue Pirates had a one-point lead.

The junior point guard ripped off 10 of the Hornets’ next 12 points, and Valley went on to a 70-57 win in the rivalry game Monday night.

Collins added a pair of free throws late to finish with 38 points. He knocked down 8-of-13 3-point shots and scored another six buckets on the fast break to help Valley move over the .500 mark at 6-5.

“It’s a big win for us. At halftime we knew they were going to come out fast. We picked it up in the fourth quarter,” Collins said. “I was hot at the beginning and knew I had to keep it up in the second half for us to win.”

Leading 12-11 in the first quarter, Collins followed a bucket on the break with a trio of 3-pointers to give the Hornets a double-digit lead.

Williamsburg (3-5) got to within nine at halftime and made a run in the third quarter, outscoring Valley 17-6 at one point to take a 45-43 lead.

Rashadd Knorr scored six of his team-high 21 points in the quarter, and Josiah Dowey had six points as well.

Nick Michelone’s 3 late in the quarter gave the Blue Pirates their first lead of the game.

“We talked at halftime about the first four minutes of the third quarter were going to be crucial. Our guys dug deep. They got in the right spots on the floor, got some rebounds and some pushouts that led to easy baskets,” Williamsburg coach Brock Anders said. “The last 24 hours have been excruciating with illness stretching through the team. We went out there and battled. They showed a lot of toughness.”

Collins snatched it right back, though, with a long 3 just before the buzzer.

Butler’s bucket to open the final quarter put Williamsburg ahead 48-47, but Valley once again reclaimed the lead on a Jaxson Rand basket.

Collins took over from there with a pair of 3s and two more buckets on the break for a 58-50 edge.

Peanut Knorr scored five straight points for the Blue Pirates to make it a one-possesion game before Valley closed out the win with 12 of the next 14 points.

After Rand sank two foul shots, Quinn Zinobile’s driving layup pushed the Valley lead to seven. Paul Leri and Jacob Hensor each added a layup before Zinobile’s layup off an an alley-oop pass from Rand set the final.

“They made a good run. They were up by one at one point, we called a timeout to settle our guys down and told them exactly what we needed to do to get this thing done. Rebounding was a big thing and taking care of the basketball,” JV coach T.J. Anderson said.

Zinobile finished with 10 points and 15 rebounds for a double-double. Collins grabbed 11 rebounds for a double-double as well. Rand and Leri added eight points apiece.

“We responded well. Last time we had this kind of atmosphere was at Juniata College against Huntindgon. We didn’t respond too well,” Anderson said. “Got a big one Thursday against Bellwood at our house. It’ll be the same kind of atmosphere. I’m looking for them to respond well again.”

Williamsburg’s next game is tonight at home against Central Cambria.

JUNIATA VALLEY (70): Collins 14 2-2 38, Zinobile 5 0-0 10, Hensor 2 0-0 4, Rand 3 2-2 8, Leri 4 0-1 8, Musser 0 0-0 0, Deihl 0 0-0 0, Rupert 0 0-2 0, Henderson 0 2-2 2. Totals — 28 6-9 70.

WILLIAMSBURG (57): R. Knorr 9 0-0 21, Michelone 3 2-2 9, Dowey 3 0-0 6, James 2 2-2 6, Butler 2 0-0 4, Brantner 0 0-0 0, P. Knorr 5 1-1 11, Ross 0 0-0 0. Totals — 24 5-5 57.

SCORE BY QUARTERS

Juniata Valley 23 14 9 24 — 70

Williamsburg 13 15 17 12 — 57

3-point goals: Juniata Valley 8 (Collins 8); Williamsburg 4 (R. Knorr 3, Michelone).

Records: Juniata Valley (6-5); Williamsburg (3-5).

JV: Juniata Valley, 43-29. High scorers–Henderson (JV) 12, Ward (W) 8.

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