MARTINSBURG — The Clearfield Area High School girls basketball team ran into a hot-shooting opponent Thursday night as Central remained in the thick of the Mountain League chase by scoring at least 14 points in every quarter for a 64-42 win.
The Lady Bison got balanced scoring from their starters but just couldn’t keep pace with the Lady Dragons, who opened a 35-21 lead by halftime en route to pulling into a three-way tie for second place at 7-2, just one game behind Tyrone.
Emily Aveni topped Clearfield (3-13, 1-8 ML) with 10 points. Brianna Spencer chipped in with nine on three treys.
Central (8-6) featured a three-pronged attack with Ashley Smith netting 17 points, Mikaela McGraw right behind with 16 and Laura Ritchey adding 14.
That trio had combined for 42 points when the teams met December 11 at Clearfield. The Lady Bison were up 22-17 at the half of the ML opener, but the Lady Dragons caught fire in the third quarter for a 24-4 run and won 54-35.
In the jayvee game, the Lady Bison were victorious, 31-18. Ally Lindstrom was high scorer with 10 points.
Clearfield gets back on the bus again Friday for a league outing at Bellefonte.
Mountain League standings – Tyrone 8-1, Penns Valley 7-2, Huntingdon 7-2, Central 7-2, Bellefonte 3-6, Clearfield 1-8, Philipsburg-Osceola 1-8, Bald Eagle Area 1-8.
CLEARFIELD — 42
Emily Ryan 4 0-1 8, Emily Aveni 3 4-5 10, Maggie Sopic 2 2-3 6, Victoria Ireland 3 1-2 7, Brianna Spencer 3 0-0 9, Sarah Aycock 0 0-0 0, Margo Castagnolo 0 0-0 0, Rachel Glenny 1 0-0 2, Sarah Lash 0 0-0 0, Tessa Waring 0 0-0 0, Macala Leigey 0 0-0 0, Janessa Riddell 0 0-0 0. TOTALS: 16 7-11 42.
CENTRAL — 64
Hannah Johnston 2 4-5 8, Mikaela McGraw 4 5-6 16, Nicole Myers 2 0-2 4, Laura Ritchey 7 0-0 14, Ashley Smith 6 2-3 17, Marissa Snyder 0 2-2 2, Paige Long 1 0-0 3, Lauren Kensinger 0 0-0 0, Tierney Fernandez 0 0-0 0, Hannah Cole 0 0-0 0. TOTALS: 22 13-18 64.
Three-Point Field Goals – Clearfield 3 (Spencer 3); Central 7 (McGraw 3, Smith 3, Long).
Score by Quarters
Clearfield   9 12 14  7 – 42
Central    18 17 15 14 – 64
Lady Bison Scoreboard:
| Date | Opponent | Score | Record |
| @ Brookville Tip-Off Tourney | |||
| 12/06 | vs. Brookville | ppd. | 0 – 0 |
| 12/07 | vs. Brookville | 18 – 45 | 0 – 1 |
| 12/07 | vs. North Clarion | 47 – 38 | 1 – 1 |
| 12/11 | CENTRAL | 35 – 54 | 1 – 2 |
| 12/13 | HUNTINGDON | 23 – 39 | 1 – 3 |
| 12/16 | @ Punxsutawney | 24 – 66 | 1 – 4 |
| 12/17 | @ Bald Eagle Area | 39 – 32 | 2 – 4 |
| 12/20 | BELLEFONTE | 25 – 27 | 2 – 5 |
| 12/27 | @ Curwensville | 46 – 50 ot | 2 – 6 |
| 01/03 | PUNXSUTAWNEY | 39 – 63 | 2 – 7 |
| 01/08 | @ Tyrone | 41 – 60 | 2 – 8 |
| 01/10 | PENNS VALLEY | 33 – 42 | 2 – 9 |
| 01/15 | @ Philipsburg-Osceola | 57 – 60 | 2 – 10 |
| 01/17 | @ St. Marys | 32 – 36 | 2 – 11 |
| 01/21 | @ Central | ppd. | 2 – 11 |
| 01/23 | CENTRAL MOUNTAIN | 45 – 28 | 3 – 11 |
| 01/24 | @ Huntingdon | 29 – 34 | 3 – 12 |
| 01/28 | BALD EAGLE AREA | ppd. | 3 – 12 |
| 01/30 | @ Central | 42 – 64 | 3 – 13 |
| 01/31 | @ Bellefonte | ||
| 02/04 | TYRONE | ||
| 02/07 | @ Penns Valley | ||
| 02/10 | CURWENSVILLE | ||
| 02/11 | PHILIPSBURG-OSCEOLA | ||
| 02/14 | BALD EAGLE AREA |
