KNOX – The Keystone Panthers edged the visiting DuBois Area Beavers 79-73 as both teams began the season Friday night at Keystone’s Tip-off Tournament in Knox, PA.
The Beavers came out firing on all cylinders to out score the Panthers 20-7 in the first period. After the buzzer sounded to start the second period, the tide changed drastically as the Beavers were then outscored by the Panthers 27-10. The teams went in at halftime with the Keystone Panthers leading 34-30. The Beavers came out after the short break, and at the end of the third period; the Beavers were leading again 54-51. The game was a back and forth battle as both teams seemed to answer each other point for point in the fourth, with the Panthers finally sliding past the Beavers to win 79-73.
Keystone senior Brock Witkowski dropped 35 points Friday on the Beavers defense under new head coach Scott Creighton. Senior Jordan Labue led the Beavers offense scoring 24 points. On the other side of the ball, Garret Peterson, a DuBois Sophomore, blocked 2 shots, and was able to hold onto 7 rebounds, as he also put up 15 points for the Beavers under the net.
The Beavers took the court again Saturday when they took on the Clarion Bobcats to wrap up the Keystone Tip-off Tournament. The Beavers were ready for this game, coming off a loss in a thriller against Keystone just a night before. The Bobcats come into the game fresh off a loss to Rocky Grove 68-30.
The game started out close with the Beavers squeaking past the Bobcats in the first period 14-13. In the second period however, it wasn’t so close. The Beaver offense outscored the Bobcats 17-7 to bring the score to 31-20 by halftime. As the game went on, it appeared as though the Bobcats just could not stop the Beavers. Over the next two periods the Beavers put up another 39 points, as the Bobcats only scored 29 to finish the game with the Beavers outscoring the battered Bobcats 70-49.
The win was a team effort, as the Beavers had 5 players scoring in the 9-14 point range. Sophomore Garret Peterson had another impressive performance. He led the Beavers offense and defense, putting up 14 points, ripping down 14 rebounds, blocking 3 shots, and stealing the ball twice. Senior Cody Schalk scored for 11 points, and Seniors Jordan Labue and Brant Davis both shot for 10, with Junior Josh Means on target as well with 9 points.
The Beavers are back in action Tuesday, December 9th, against Hollidaysburg in a home opener at the DuBois Area High School.