PUNXSUTAWNEY – The Clearfield Area High School boys basketball team’s bid for a big upset to end the regular season was foiled when Punxsutawney dominated the fourth quarter to win the duel of District 9 Class AAA rivals 49-37 Wednesday night.
The Bisons led most of the first three quarters and carried a 29-28 edge into the final period, but Brandon Mancuso hit a three-pointer to put the Chucks ahead, and they went on to pull away with a 21-pont outburst.
Robbie Myers shouldered the bulk of Clearfield’s offense with 23 points and just missed a double-double, pulling down a team-high nine rebounds.
Daniel Triponey and Ian Miller, filling in for injured point guard Alex Fedigan, paced the Chucks with 17 and 13 points, respectively.
Coach Forrest Campman’s Bisons, also missing a starter with Christian Lezzer out because of illness, rode Myers’ 13 points to a 22-13 lead before the Chucks went on a 7-0 run to end the first half.
After Punxsy (15-6) tied the game at the start of the third quarter, Myers tallied seven consecutive points to give Clearfield a 29-22 advantage.
Once again, the Chucks rallied to narrow the deficit to one point and gain the momentum they maintained throughout the fourth quarter.
Five of the Bisons’ eight points came in the final minute, with a late three-pointer by Seth Beardsley their lone field goal.
Clearfield will enter the District 9 Class AAA Playoffs with an 8-14 record.
Punxsy’s jayvees also were victorious, 49-18. Jon Janocko scored half of Clearfield’s points.
CLEARFIELD — 37
Beau Swales 0 2-2 2, Curtis Frye 1 0-0 2, Seth Beardsley 2 0-0 6, Shawn Lord 0 0-0 0, Trey Jordan 1 2-3 4, Ryan Hertlein 0 0-0 0, Robbie Myers 8 7-9 23. TOTALS: 12 11-14 37.
PUNXSUTAWNEY — 49
Daniel Triponey 5 5-7 17, Brandon Mancuso 2 2-2 8, Luke Janocha 2 2-6 6, Garrett Zimmerman 0 3-4 3, Ian Miller 5 3-4 13, Clayton Dale 0 0-0 0, Tim Pearce 0 0-0 0, Jesse Venturini 1 0-0 2, Devin Nicholson 0 0-0 0, Tyler Young 0 0-0 0, Mike Rosenberger 0 0-0 0, Will Curtis 0 0-0 0. TOTALS: 15 15-23 49.
Three-Point Field Goals – Clearfield 2 (Beardsley 2); Punxsutawney 4 (Triponey 2, Mancuso 2).
SCORE BY QUARTERS
Clearfield 11 11 7 8 – 37
Punxsutawney 7 13 8 21 – 49
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 | 50 – 36 | 3 – 2 | |
| vs. Purchase Line | 41 – 35 | 4 – 2 | |
| 01/03 | @ Tyrone | 38 – 72 | 4 – 3 |
| 01/05 | @ Brookville | 43 – 66 | 4 – 4 |
| 01/10 | @ Philipsburg-Osceola | 45 – 36 | 5 – 4 |
| 01/13 | PENNS VALLEY | 34 – 47 | 5 – 5 |
| 01/18 | CENTRAL MOUNTAIN | 49 – 50 | 5 – 6 |
| 01/20 | @ Bald Eagle Area | 53 – 63 | 5 – 7 |
| 01/23 | DUBOIS | 58 – 66 | 5 – 8 |
| 01/25 | @ Huntingdon | 58 – 51 | 6 – 8 |
| 01/27 | JUNIATA | 65 – 49 | 7 – 8 |
| 01/31 | @ Central | 52 – 61 | 7 – 9 |
| 02/03 | TYRONE | 34 – 68 | 7 – 10 |
| 02/04 | @ Penns Valley | 34 – 47 | 7 – 11 |
| 02/08 | PHILIPSBURG-OSCEOLA | 51 – 31 | 8 – 11 |
| 02/10 | @ Central Mountain | 32 – 49 | 8 – 12 |
| 02/13 | @ St. Marys | 53 – 73 | 8 – 13 |
| 02/15 | @ Punxsutawney | 37 – 49 | 8 – 14 |
| TBD | District 9 Playoffs |
