Wyomissing holds off Twin Valley, improves to 2-0

Ben Zechman came up with several key plays down the stretch to help Wyomissing hold off Twin Valley 50-48 in a non-league boys basketball game Wednesday night.

Zechman hit a breakaway layup, off an assist from Drew Eisenhower, to give the Spartans (2-0) the lead for good at 48-46 with 2:02 remaining.

A minute later, with the Spartans in the spread offense the kill the clock, Zechman found Nevin Carter alone underneath for a basket that extended the lead to four points.

Zechman also had a steal with a minute to go to prevent the Raiders (2-3) from tying the game.

Julian O’Brien scored a game-high 17 points for Wyomissing. Carter had 11 and Eisenhower eight.

It was Wyomissing’s second game in as many nights; the Spartans opened their season Tuesday with a 47-33 win over Tulpehocken.

Kannon Zdimal had 14 points, nine in the final quarter, and Danny Yost 12 for Twin Valley.

Zdimal’s basket with 16.5 seconds left pulled the Raiders within two. They had two more opportunities to tie it but turned the ball over twice, the last with 1.9 seconds remaining.

Amory Thompson, who left Tuesday’s game with shoulder pain, returned and went the whole way for the Spartans.

Wyomissing led by six points, 42-36, entering the final period. The Spartans missed 10-of-23 free throws, including 4-of-6 in the final quarter. The Raiders missed 3-of-4 free throws in the final quarter.

Wyomissing delayed the start of its season because its football team played in the PIAA Class 3A championship game on Dec. 11, the day after basketball season opened. The Spartans play their third game in three days Thursday at Elizabethtown.