CLEARFIELD — Friday night the Clearfield Bison cagers provided their loyal student section with an early Christmas present bringing home a big win against league opponent Bellefonte 59-44. In return, the clever “Dark Forrest” student section serenaded the home team with a handful of Christmas tunes.
Bellefonte jumped out to an early lead against the hometown Bisons on back to back three pointers by John Kawalchuck. The Bisons soon threw a counter punch with Christian Lezzer’s reverse layup with 4:15 to go in the first to tie the game at six.
The Bisons wouldn’t look back from that point cruising to a big victory. Clearfield would finish the first quarter with an 18-13 lead. Lezzer paced the Bisons by scoring eight of his 15 points in the frame.
“We had very balanced scoring tonight with three guys scoring in double figures. We held a team to under 50 points again and we almost reached 60,” said Clearfield Head Coach Forrest Campman.
The Bisons opened up the second period keeping the hot hand to extend the lead to nine points for most of the quarter. Trey Jordan got in on the scoring action knocking down two field goals in the frame. Jordan finished the night with 12 points off the bench.
At the half Clearfield had jumped out to a 29-20 lead.
“We are lucky to have the option to mix up our lineup bringing Lezzer and Jordan off the bench because they are scoring threats,” commented Campman.
Clearfield came out just as energized in the second half and continued to build their lead to double digits. At one point, prior to back-to-back buckets by the Red Raiders, Clearfield had built an 18 point lead. Robbie Myers posted a huge quarter for the Bisons scoring 10 of his game high 20 points in the period. At the end of three Clearfield had jumped out to a 45-31 advantage.
“Robbie Myers is playing like a league all-star I think every game so far he has gotten a double-double. He’s been a force for us in the inside,” said Campman of his senior forward.
The Bisons were able to easily close out the game in the fourth as every Clearfield senior saw playing time in the game. Myers sealed the game knocking down all four free throws in the frame while Andrew McCracken put the game on ice with a layup in the closing minute.
“We’ve gotten better this week compared to the first week; but obviously we need to get better and we are going to continue to work.”
The Bisons will be back in action on Tuesday as they travel to the Purchase Line Holiday tournament where they will square off against Harmony in the opening game.
Score by quarter total
Clearfield 18 11 16 14 59
Bellefonte 13 7 11 13 44
Clearfield 59
Frye 1 3-6 5, Lezzer 6 2-2 15, Swales 1 0-0 2, Lord 1 0-2 2, Robbie Myers 8 4-5 20, Beardsley 0 1-2 1, Jordan 5 2-7 12, Andrew McCracken 1 0-0 2, John Gaylor 0 0-0 0, Craig Bell 0 0-0 0, Ryan Hertlein 0 0-0 0, Tyler Woomer 0 0-0 0
Bellefonte 44
Johna Kawalchuk 3 1-2 10, Jason Jarvis 4 2-2 10, Evin Wian 2 1-2 6, Andy Stover 0 0-0 0, NuNu Buey 1 0-1 3, Steve Jabco 0 0-0 0, Skylor Wian 2 0-0 4, Mike Jabco 0 0-0 0, Dylan Moerchauer 0 0-0 0, Nick Leiter 1 0-0 2, Ethan White 0 0-0 0, Dennis Wakefield 0 0-0 0, Tanner Light 3 0-0 9
Three Pointers: Clearfield (Lezzer ), Bellefonte ( Kawalchuk 3, Light 3, Buey)
Clearfield Bison Scoreboard:
| Date | Opponent | Score | Record |
| 12/13 | HUNTINGDON | 46 – 49 ot | 0 – 1 |
| 12/16 | ST. MARYS | 29 – 36 | 0 – 2 |
| 12/20 | CENTRAL | 51 – 40 | 1 – 2 |
| 12/23 | BELLEFONTE | 59 – 44 | 2 – 2 |
| 12/27&28 | @ Lions Club Invitational | ||
| vs. Harmony | |||
| vs. TBD |