In the midst of the snow, wind and difficult travel conditions, Patton Hall played host to another night of basketball for the Curwensville Golden Tide. On a night where the parents of the entire team were honored, those who braved the elements to make it to the Curwensville High School got treated to a physical and emotional contest between the Tide and the visiting Johnsonburg Rams.
For 32 minutes, the two sides went back and forth, exchanging the lead, blocking shots, causing fouls and rebounding the basketball. Unfortunately for Curwensville, the final quarter spelled their doom.
The Rams out-scored the Tide, 19-5, in the final eight minutes to secure a 54-44 victory.
Two Johnsonburg cagers broke into double digits as guard Aaron Patrick scored a team-high 20 points, while Matt Shuey accounted for 17 of his own. Patrick led the Rams in rebounds with six, while both Shuey and Joe Holmberg led in assists with four each.
Johnsonburg was down by three after just one quarter, however Patrick found his rhythm on the floor as he went 4-of-7 from the floor, while also accounting for three steals. That type of play left the score at a 22-22 tie heading into halftime.
What was hurting the Tide the most throughout the entire game was not having their junior center, Kyle Barrett, in the line-up. Injured earlier in the week, he took away the big inside factor for rebounds and blocks.
However, Jed Greslick stepped into the role of rebounds as he led the Tide with eight on the night, six of which came in the second half.
The biggest boost for the Tide came from Ben Johnson, who exploded in the third quarter. Coming off a first half that saw him score just six points, Johnson was fed the ball quickly and often as he found a sweet spot at the top of the key. He began draining three-point shots, building up as much as a 10-point advantage.
Johnson would end the night with 20 points, a team high, while Greslick accounted for 12 more.
The Tide led by four as the fourth quarter began, but then Johnsonburg began to wear out Curwensville on both ends of the court. Both Shuey and Patrick began hitting key shots and getting the ball spread around the floor. Meanwhile, on the other end, the Tide began committing key turnovers and getting into foul trouble.
Greslick, Johnson and Alec Starr accounted for the lone five points in the quarter, with Starr gaining his two points following a turnover and ensuing lay up.
Head coach Matt Wassil could be heard in the locker room speaking to his team, upset and frustrated at what happened. He was unavailable for comment following the game.
In junior varsity action, Johnsonburg also defeated Curwensville in a close 37-32 contest.
Curwensville has now lost seven straight games, their longest streak of the season, bringing their record to 4-13. They will attempt to get back on top as they travel to Sheffield next Tuesday for the first of two road games. Tip off for the jayvee contest will be at 6 p.m. with the varsity game to follow.
SCORE BY QUARTERS
Johnsonburg 8 14 13 19 54
Curwensville 11 11 17 5 44
GAME STATISTICS
Two-Point Shots: JB-19/40 CV-9/32
Three-Point Shots: JB-0/4 CV-6/12
Rebounds: JB-21 CV-20
Team Fouls: JB-14 CV-17
Turnovers: JB-16 CV-14
INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS
Johnsonburg 54
Martonik 0 0-0 0, Patrick 7 6-7 20, Padasak 0 0-0 0, Holmberg 3 3-4 9, Gorske 0 0-0 0, Mike Shuey 1 1-1 3, Imbrogno 1 0-2 3, Matt Shuey 8 1-3 17, Weible 1 0-0 2. Totals 21 8-14 54
Curwensville
Gardner 3 1-2 8, Ireland 0 0-0 0, Greslick 4 4-4 12, Hoover 0 0-0 0, Starr 1 0-0 2, Johnson 6 3-6 20, S. McGary 0 0-0 0, B. McGary 1 0-0 2. Totals 15 8-14 44
Three-Point Buckets: JB-None CV-Gardner, Johnson (5)
Foul Outs: JB-None CV-Greslick