HYDE — An important aspect of basketball is to maintain a good flow. Often that means making smart passes, getting rebounds at both ends of the court, and putting the ball through the hoop.
But how exactly does a team win when neither team could get a flow going at any point in a game?
The Clearfield Lady Bisons returned home on Monday night to host the Penns Valley Lady Rams, a team they beat 59-45 earlier in the month. It was expected to be an even contest, and one that would go back and forth. Instead, what the fans that made the trip to the Arthur J. Weiss Gymnasium on “Shoot To Conquer Cancer” Night witnessed was a back and forth game of foul calls. Combined, the two teams had 42 fouls called in the 32 minute contest.
With neither team keeping a flow because of the constant stoppage in play, it was the Lady Bisons using strong defense and play from the bench to put points on the board, gain rebounds, and at some points out-score Penns Valley as the home crowd was rewarded with a 58-41 victory.
“Tonight, I thought, was a good test for our bench. My two posts got in foul trouble, but our bench picked it up,” head coach Joey Castagnolo said afterward. “I think Kate (Sheeder) had a great game off the bench.”
Sheeder had the most impressive stats off the bench, despite only scoring two points. She had four rebounds and had some key takeaways.
But all the fouls also caused some trouble for his squad as starters Dakota Farmery and Brianna Peters got in foul trouble in the first half, so they were forced to play cautiously in the second half. To Penns Valley’s credit, they knew that and put the pressure on, causing both to foul out. However, it didn’t seem to phase the team. Despite ending their night early, the two combined for 14 points and 15 rebounds.
But, the biggest plays on the court came from Lisa Ambuski and Rachel Thompson. Each were able to get good reads to their teammates, combining for nine assists. But both were able to hit big shots when it mattered. Ambuski ended the night with 14 points, with Thompson adding a team-high 15.
No shot was bigger for momentum than the one made at the end of the first quarter. With time running out, Ambuski went for an inside shot, but the missed basket was rebounded by Janelle Mumma who got the ball out quick to Thompson. With one second on the clock, Thompson went for the shot at the top of the arc, and Castagnolo knew when it left her hands that it would go in, and the ball never bounced off the rim. That capped off a 17-5 opening quarter lead for Clearfield.
“I know when it will go in, and when it won’t go in. Right when she took the shot, I knew it was going in the basket,” Castagnolo said.
Penns Valley started to cut into the lead in the second and third quarters, using some quick breaks to find holes in the zone, getting as close as six points down halfway through the third quarter. But the second half is where the Lady Bisons picked up the pace, and not even Castagnolo could believe what he was seeing.
“At one point I would look up at the score and we would be up by seven. Next thing I know, I look up and we’re up 18,” Castagnolo said. “”I think the big difference was our defense. You know, we didn’t have the flow like we wanted, but our defense stepped up, and we scored.”
Penns Valley only had one player in double figures as Kelsey Boone ended the night with 16 points and eight rebounds.
The Lady Rams had better luck in the junior varsity game as they would be victorious in a 35-29 final.
Now sitting at 12-5, having won four of their last five games, Clearfield will try to win their third straight game as they will host Central on Wednesday night, a team the Lady Bisons beat in December. Tip off is set for 6 p.m. for the jayvee game, with the varsity contest to follow.
See photos of the game here: http://www.ladybisonsports.org/lbsbball013012.html
SCORE BY QUARTERS
Penns Valley 5 12 9 15 – 41
Clearfield 17 8 13 18 – 58
Penns Valley 41
Strubble 1 0-0 2, Darr 0 0-0 0, Heckman 0 1-2 1, Swartz 0 0-0 0, Lyons 0 1-2 1, Pinamonti 0 0-0 0, Hazel 1 2-8 4, Emel 1 2-2 4, Bastress 0 2-4 2, Houser 1 2-2 4, Boone 6 4-5 16, Keller 3 1-3 7. Totals 13 15-28 41
Clearfield 58
Butler 1 3-3 7, Spencer 0 1-2 1, Renaud 0 0-0 0, Munshower 0 0-0 0, Farmery 2 0-0 4, Ambuski 5 2-2 14, Thompson 6 2-2 15, Aveni 0 0-0 0, Mumma 0 0-0 0, Peters 3 4-6 10, Sheeder 1 3-9 5, Sopic 1 0-1 2. Totals 19 15-26 58
Field Goals Made/Attempted: PV-13/54 CF-19/46
Team Rebounds: PV-27 CF-30
Team Fouls: PV-20 CF-22
Turnovers: PV-14 CF-18
Three-Point Shots: Ambuski (2), Thompson
Foul Outs: PV-Emel; CF-Farmery, Peters
Lady Bison Scoreboard:
| Date | Opponent | Score | Record |
| 12/14 | @ Huntingdon | 68 – 89 | 0 – 1 |
| 12/19 | PUNXSUTAWNEY | 60-55 2ot | 1 – 1 |
| 12/21 | @ Central | 46 – 37 | 2 – 1 |
| 12/23 | @ Bellefonte | 55 – 30 | 3 – 1 |
| 12/28 | @ Curwensville | 57 – 38 | 4 – 1 |
| 01/04 | TYRONE | 38 – 47 | 4 – 2 |
| 01/06 | @ Punxsutawney | 55 – 68 | 4 – 3 |
| 01/09 | BROOKVILLE | 63 – 55 | 5 – 3 |
| 01/10 | PHILIPSBURG-OSCEOLA | 71 – 37 | 6 – 3 |
| 01/12 | @ DuBois | 57 – 45 | 7 – 3 |
| 01/14 | @ Penns Valley | 59 – 45 | 8 – 3 |
| 01/17 | @ Central Mountain | 37 – 50 | 8 – 4 |
| 01/20 | BALD EAGLE AREA | 61 – 55 | 9 – 4 |
| 01/24 | HUNTINGDON | 72 – 48 | 10 – 4 |
| 01/26 | ST. MARYS | 51 – 55 | 10 – 5 |
| 01/27 | @ Juniata | 59 – 53 | 11 – 5 |
| 01/30 | PENNS VALLEY | 58 – 41 | 12 – 5 |
| 02/01 | CENTRAL |