A huge game from Kobe Nwosu (Spring Valley/North Rockland H.S.) helped the Panthers hold on for a big conference win, 83-80 over Corning Community College on Thursday. The win improves the Panthers to 10-1 and still in first place in the Mid-State Athletic Conference, and 14-6 overall. Corning, the third-place team in the MSAC, drops to 8-4 in conference and 10-12 overall.

The Panthers used a fast start to jump ahead by 14 points midway through the first half. Corning rallied, closing the gap to just two points at the break, 46-44. The Red Barons took their first lead of the game in the opening moments of the second half, and the teams traded the lead six times through the first ten minutes of the second half. The final lead change came as part of a 13-3 run for the Panthers that left the score 75-67 with 5:35 left. The spread remained at least two possessions the rest of the way until a late run by Corning made the score 81-78 with 27.5 seconds left. A pair of free throws by Sheldon Schuler (New Haven, Conn./Lee Academy Prep) with 6.3 seconds left sealed the win, and made the bucket by Corning with 1.2 seconds left irrelevant.

Kobe Nwosu (Spring Valley/North Rockland H.S.) had a career night, posting 30 points, 13 rebounds, and 4 blocks. Javonte Long (Harlem/Clayton H.S.) had 14 points and 6 rebounds, and Schuler just missed a double-double with 12 points, 9 rebounds, and 4 assists. Marqiis Samuels (Long Island/The Patrick School) added 9 points, 7 assists, 4 rebounds, and 2 steals.

Looking ahead

The Panthers play at Finger Lakes Community College on Saturday.