BELLEFONTE – It was a game that went back and forth with numerous ties and lead changes that ended up with the Clearfield Area High School boys basketball squad picking up the first win of the year, 52-51, over Bellefonte on the Red Raiders’ home floor Friday night.
Bellefonte (1-3) jumped out to an early 11-5 lead over the Bison before Clearfield would go on an 11-0 run to take a 16-11 margin with 2:37 remaining in the opening quarter.
Junior Erik Sellers had nine first quarter points for Clearfield.
The Bison couldn’t extend the three point edge they had after the first frame, 16-13, and the teams went into intermission all knotted at 22-22.
Red Raider senior Nick Leiter fueled Bellefonte with seven second quarter points and 12 at the half.
Three third period three-pointers for the Bison, one each by Sellers, Will Myers and Christian Lezzer, helped Clearfield carry a one point lead, 37-36, into the final eight minutes of action.
With Bellefonte ahead, 44-42, and 4:51 remaining in the game, Lezzer hit another trey to send the Bison back out in front, 45-44.
Danny Caprio of the Red Raiders took just twenty seconds of action to give Bellefonte the lead again, 46-45, on a short jumper.
After Myers hit the back end of two free-throws and Sellers added a bucket, it was Clearfield, once again taking a two point bulge, 48-46, with 3:00 left.
Leiter, just 13 seconds later, tied it up once more and for the last time, 48-48, with a two point basket.
Clearfield, however, was not about to fold on this night as Lezzer hit a two-point field goal of his own with 2:22 left to give the Bison the lead, 50-48; a lead they would not relinquish.
Both teams struggled offensively in the final two plus minutes but Sellers hit two free throws with just 10.3 seconds on the clock, giving Clearfield a four point edge, 52-48.
The free throws by Sellers were huge due to the fact that through three periods of play, Clearfield was just a dismal three of 14 from the charity stripe. On the night the Bison were six of 18 from the line.
Leiter gave the home crowd some hope when he hit a three with just under one second remaining in the Friday night clash, but that was it for Bellefonte and Clearfield was able to taste victory for the first time this season.
Sellers had 22 to pace all players while Lezzer added 16, including four three-pointers for the Bison.
For Bellefonte Leiter had 19 points.
In the junior varsity contest Clearfield came away with a 43-28 victory over the Red Raider youngsters.
The Bison (1-4) return to the hardwood Friday and Saturday, December 27 & 28, when they compete in the Purchase Line Tournament.
CLEARFIELD – 52
Seth Ford 0 0-0 0, Christian Lezzer 6 0-0 16, Erik Sellers 9 3-6 22, Wyatt Westen 0 0-0 0, Jon Janocko 0 0-4 0, Will Myers 3 1-2 8, Andy Brown 1 1-3 3, Derek Hryn 1 1-3 3, Ryan Lezzer 0 0-0 0, Devon Jones 0 0-0 0, TOTALS – 20 6-18 52.
BELLEFONTE – 51
Evan Wian 3 0-0 6, Andrew Stover 2 3-3 7, Nick Leiter 8 2-6 19, Trent Fortney 2 0-0 5, Tyler Kreger 0 0-2 0, Mitch Grasser 2 3-4 7, Vance Pryzbys 0 0-0 0, Josh Weaver 0 0-0 0, Brett Finley 0 0-0 0, Danny Caprio 3 0-0 7, TOTALS – 20 8-15 51.
THREE-POINTERS: Lezzer 4, Sellers, Myers, Leiter, Fortney, Caprio
SCORE BY QUARTERS:
CLEARFIELD 16 6 15 15 52
BELLEFONTE 13 9 14 15 51
Bison Scoreboard:
| Date | Opponent | Score | Record |
| 12/09 | CURWENSVILLE | 38 – 56 | 0 – 1 |
| 12/10 | @ Central | 32 – 55 | 0 – 2 |
| 12/13 | @ Huntingdon | 41 – 65 | 0 – 3 |
| 12/18 | BALD EAGLE AREA | 57 – 89 | 0 – 4 |
| 12/20 | @ Bellefonte | 52 – 51 | 1 – 4 |
| @ PL Lions Club Tourney | |||
| 12/27 | vs. TBD | ||
| 12/28 | vs. TBD | ||
| 01/03 | @ Punxsutawney | ||
| 01/06 | TYRONE | ||
| 01/07 | @ Brookville | ||
| 01/10 | @ Penns Valley | ||
| 01/14 | PHILIPSBURG-OSCEOLA | ||
| 01/17 | ST. MARYS | ||
| 01/20 | DUBOIS | ||
| 01/22 | CENTRAL | ||
| 01/24 | HUNTINGDON | ||
| 01/29 | @ Bald Eagle Area | ||
| 01/31 | BELLEFONTE | ||
| 02/05 | @ Tyrone | ||
| 02/07 | PENNS VALLEY | ||
| 02/12 | @ Philipsburg-Osceola | ||
| 02/14 | @ Curwensville |
OFFICIALS: Michael Conron, Ron Williams, Nate Althouse