Tough Play on the Boards Leads to Big Points to Keep Clearfield Unbeaten

HYDE — No one could ever predict how strong the Clearfield Bison basketball team would be this season.  Coming off a critical and impressive victory on Friday night over Tyrone, the schedule did not give any breaks.  The team was back on the hardwood of the Bison Gymnasium for yet another match-up against the Punxsutawney Chucks.

For one quarter, the Bison were showing exactly what made them undefeated on the year with tough play on both sides of the court, breaking out to a lead.  But by halftime, the Chucks had erased that deficit to hold a slim lead.  But, just like has happened already this year, Clearfield came back to show they were not giving in easily.

The Bison would gain key defensive rebounds, leading to points on the change of possession, while also getting put-back points from offensive boards to pull off a 57-47 triumph to remain unbeaten on the year.

After giving his team a post-game talk, head coach Nate Glunt was clear in what made the difference for the team when it mattered the most.

“It’s just playing hard.  We had to not let our man take us to the basket, we had to stay in front of our man so we didn’t need to help as much, so they couldn’t penetrate,” Glunt said.  “Give Punxsy credit, they can get to the basket, and can definitely shoot the basketball.  If you let them penetrate, kick, penetrate, kick, they’re putting the ball in the basket.

“We just had to play harder, and try to stop our man.”

After one quarter of play, Clearfield would hold a 13-9 margin, but in the second quarter things started to fall apart a bit for the home team.  Critical turnovers were leading to points and it would bring the Chucks closer to the lead, and eventually would give them the lead on some shots behind the arc.

At halftime, the Chucks held a 30-29 lead, mostly thanks to Ryan Sconiger, who led the Chucks in scoring with 18 points, nine of them coming in that second frame from three shots at the top of the key or at the baseline behind the arc.

“I think they forced some, and they responded.  Give them credit, when we gave them an opportunity, they took it,” Glunt said.  “Their coach does an excellent job.  They had a good game plan, and they executed.”

Coming out of the break, Punxsutawney would have possession, but at that moment the Bison would turn up the pressure in their man-on-man defense and zone pressure.  It led to turnovers, and that soon led to points, as the Bison would score the first eight points of the half, igniting the crowd and giving them a sizable lead that they would not lose the remainder of the night.

Two big reasons for the play were Erik Sellers and Cody Spaid.  Sellers would pick up three steals in the third quarter, two of which led to layups, while Cody Spaid would use his 6′ 7″ size to crash the boards and pick up rebounds on both ends of the court.  Sellers would be one of three Bison players to hit double digits in scoring, as he ended the night with 11 points, plus seven rebounds.  Spaid would lead all rebounders with 14 while adding nine points of his own.  Tommy Hazel would have a huge third quarter, sinking nine of his 14 points in the frame.

Will Myers would have a strong first half, and would lead the entire game with 20 points.

For Glunt, whether it’s points, rebounds, assists or just playing strong, the ultimate goal was having the entire team put forth the effort to get the win.  To him, that is what happened.

“I thought that Erik stepped up big time as well in the post, Cody also had some big put-backs and rebounds.  I think it was a great team effort.  David (McKenzie) handled the pressure, Evan Brown came in and gave us solid minutes, Kaleb Strouse came in and played solid defense; just a great team effort,” Glunt said.  “I thought he (Spaid) crashed the boards really well.  I thought he handled the pressure really well when they pressed us, and out-letting the ball on the break.

“We got Sellers the ball, and he really stepped up offensively, and defensively.  We tried to give him the ball in the post, and he’s got broad shoulders from lifting weights.  Tomorrow morning we’re going back in the weight room before school because I think the weight program is important to our program.”

Clearfield would not have the same luck in the opening junior-varsity contest as they lost a high-scoring 63-55 contest to start the night.

For the first time in a long while, the Bison basketball team is undefeated heading into the holiday break.  For Glunt, being 6-0 is a great feeling for him and his team, but in his eyes it’s not about wins and losses.  It’s something much bigger.

“I was just hoping to be 1-0.  I really didn’t think about a record at this point in the season.  My goal was to get better every day, and then have a winning season and compete for a district championship,” Glunt said.  “That’s what we’re working towards.”

The Bison will have a week off before stepping onto the court again as they will take part in the Purchase Line Holiday Tournament next Monday and Tuesday.

SCORE BY QUARTERS

Punxsutawney   9   21   7   10   –   47

Clearfield   13   16   15   13   –   57

Punxsutawney 47

Weaver 0 0-0 0, Perry 3 3-3 10, Riley 2 0-0 6, L. Huey 0 0-0 0, Lingenfelter 0 0-0 0, Ray 0 0-0 0, J. Matthews 0 0-0 0, Horner 0 0-0 0, Kelly 0 0-0 0, D. Huey 3 3-4 9, Sconiger 6 2-2 18, Taylor 1 1-2 3, Fedigan 0 1-2 1, B. Matthews 0 0-0 0, Jenary 0 0-0 0.  TOTALS 15 10-13 47

Clearfield 57

Heichel 0 0-0 0, Brown 0 0-0 0, Shimmel 0 0-0 0, Strouse 0 0-0 0, Sellers 4 3-4 11, McKenzie 0 3-4 3, Wood 0 0-0 0, Hazel 4 5-6 14, Royer 0 0-0 0 Spaid 4 0-2 9, Myers 7 4-5 20.  TOALS 19 15-21 57

GAME STATISTICS
Punxsutawney/Clearfield

Field Goals Made-Attempted:  15-48/19-47

Team Fouls:  17/12

Rebounds:  24/30

Turnovers:  15/13

Three-Point Shots:  Sconiger (4), Perry, Riley (2)/Hazel, Spaid, Myers (2)

Bison Scoreboard: