DIEDRICH SCORES 23 AS ATHENS BOYS BASKETBALL TOPPLES COLBY

Zaleski Sports

ATHENS – Athens jumped out to a big lead by halftime and held off Colby to win 82-69 in a nonconference boys basketball game Monday at Athens High School.

Athens (3-1) led 43-27 at halftime and were able to maintain its double-digit lead the rest of the way.

Cooper Diedrich had 23 points and 12 rebounds, Aiden Janke added 20 points, and Kody Lepak chipped in 15 for the Bluejays.

Evan Guralski added 14 points and Connor Sheahan 10 as five Athens players reached double digits in scoring.

Colby statistics were not provided.

Both teams return to action Thursday. Colby (1-1) plays a Cloverbelt Conference East Division game at Gilman, and Athens will host Stratford (3-0) for a Marawood Conference crossover.

Bluejays 82, Hornets 69

Colby 27 42 - 69

Athens 43 39 - 82

COLBY (69): Statistics not reported. Record: 1-1.

ATHENS (82): Connor Sheahan 2-7 5-10 10, Cooper Diedrich 6-17 11-14 23, Nathan Wolf 0-1 0-0 0, Evan Guralski 5-10 0-1 14, Johnson 0-0 0-0 0, Kody Lepak 5-10 4-6 15, Connor Komarek 0-1 0-0 0, Aiden Janke 7-13 6-10 20. FG: 25-59. FT: 26-41. 3-pointers: 6-25 (Guralski 4-9, Lepak 1-4, Sheahan 1-5, Janke 0-2, Diedrich 0-5). Rebounds: 39 (Diedrich 12). Turnovers: 21. Fouls: 23. Fouled out: Guralski. Record: 3-1.