Curwensville—A game that started out looking like a defensive struggle between Curwensville and Clearfield turned into a jump shot battle by the time the final buzzer sounded. Both teams showed how disciplined they were by committing very few fouls, this defensive exhibition showed great testament to the coaching styles of Golden Tide’s Vic Gearhart and the Bison’s Joey Castagnolo.
Clearfield was able to jump out to a 3-0 lead just seconds into the game with a three pointer from Alanna Luzier, but the next trip down the court the lady Tide were able to tie the game up with a three pointer from Hannah Walls. Luzier and Walls would continue to trade shots throughout the game. After those first shots were made both teams would struggle to score in the first quarter thanks to some good defense from both teams respectively. The first quarter ended knotted at 8-8 after another Luzier three pointer.
That first quarter would be the last that the Lady Bisons would have trouble scoring. It was a different story for the Lady Tide unfortunately. The Bisons were able to go into halftime with a seven point lead over the Tide at 21-14. Though the Tide were down there was a bright spot in the first half with Hannah Walls netting 10 points. The Bisons were able to get an even brighter showing in the first half with Luzier and Jayme Ryan scoring 9 and 8 points respectively in the first half of play.
The Bisons continued their hot shooting into the second half going up as many as fifteen points in the third quarter with help from Ryan, Luzier, and Amber Byerly. Clearfield also dominated the boards in the second half thanks to Byerly, Annie Janocko, and Elizabeth Peters. Curwensville started to make a short second half comeback with Walls and Holly Fink continuing to be the hot shooters for the Lady Tide, but they ultimately fell short.
Clearfield was able to seal the game in the fourth quarter by pressuring the ball when it was in the hands of Walls and Fink. Neither was able to get many good looks at an open basket late in the game. In the end Clearfield was able to come out with a hard fought victory in front of a good crowd at Curwensville High School Gym by a score of 51-34. The Lady Bisons were lead by the hot shooting hands of Ryan, Luzire and Byerly who scored 18, 14, and 8 points respectively in the cross river contest. The Lady Tide were lead by Walls and Fink, who combined to score all of their teams points except for 2, netting 17 and 15 points.
The Bisons will be back in action Friday night when the take on the Lady Raiders of Bellefonte and the Lady Tide will also be in action in a league game Friday night against the Lady Rovers of Brockway.
Clearfield 51
Ryan 6 1-1 18, Luzier 6 0-0 14, Porter 2 0-0 4, Janocko 0 1-2 1, Kovalick 0 0-0 0, Sopic 0 0-0 0, McKenzie 1 0-0 3, Peters 1 1-2 3, Byerly 4 0-0 8
Curwensville 34
Stiles 0 0-0 0, Walls 7 0-0 17, Bloom 0 2-2 2, Desmett 0 0-0 0, Bressler 0 0-0 0, Fink 6 3-4 15.