AMESVILLE – The Curwensville Golden Tide have another date with Moshannon Valley in two weeks and for the Tide’s sake they\’re hoping that Tom Rowley cools off a whole bunch by then.
The Black Knight senior scorched the nets for 30 points Friday night in the season opener for both squads as Mo Valley rolled 59-49 over visiting Curwensville in boys basketball action.
The Moshannon Valley League game started out all Black Knights as the home team opened up a 19-6 lead after one frame behind Rowley’s 10. It was an opening period which saw the Tide miss many inside shots that became the story for them the rest of the way.
Curwensville did outscore their hosts over the final three periods, 43-40, but the damage had already been done in the first stanza. The Tide never got closer than nine after the opening round in a game that was littered with a total of 49 fouls being whistled. On the evening both teams attempted a grand total of 59 free throws. Curwensville was 19 of 29 from the charity stripe while Mo Valley was 18 of 30. Three Tide players and one Knight fouled before the night was over.
Justin Dudurich came off the bench to help Rowley by dumping in 10 points. No other Black Knight had more than five for head coach Darin Ricciotti’s team.
For Curwensville head man Matt Wassi,l his group was paced by 12 from senior David Kalgren and 10 from fellow classmate Ben McGary.
Wassil did see some positives though, “ I thought our effort was very good even though we got so far behind in the first period. I was very pleased with the rebounding of Derek Dixon and Tyler Johns, who came off of the bench.” Wassil then added, “It’s only the first game of the year with lots of ball to be played and I am sure we will improve overall.”
The Tide Junior Varsity knocked of Mo Valley 25-20 in the opening game of the evening.
Curwensville travels to Brockway next Wednesday for a game with the Rovers.
CURWENSVILLE – 49 Sam Gardner 2 1-2 7, Andrew Starr 1 6-6 8, David Kalgren 2 6-6 12, Derek Dixon 2 0-7 4, Ben McGary 3 3-3 10, Mark Dell’antonio 2 0-1 5, Tyler Johns 0 3-4 3, Kyle Barrett 0 0-0 0.
TOTALS – 12 19-29 49
MOSHANNON VALLEY – 59 Jason Gmerek 0 3-4 3, Tom Rowley 10 9-14 30, Tyler Neff 1 2-4 5, Brandon Morroni 2 0-3 4, Eric Curry 2 0-0 5, Sage Henry 0 0-0 0, Nick Gmerek 1 0-0 2, Nick Shawver 0 0-0 0, Justin Dudurich 3 4-5 10. TOTALS – 19 18-30 59
THREE POINTERS – CURWENSVILLE 6 – Gardner 2, Kalgren 2, McGary 1, Dell’antonio 1.
MOSHANNON VALLEY 3 – Rowley 1, Neff 1, Curry 1.
SCORE BY QUARTERS
CURWENSVILLE 6 11 13 19 49
MOSHANNON VALLEY 19 9 11 20 59