Bison Cagers Spread Ball and Score Big in Victory Over P-O

HYDE — One thing that no team at any level of sports wants is having to wait to play their next game.  Heading into Thursday, the Clearfield Bison basketball squad was on the court last on Friday when they were on the road and came away victorious over Penns Valley.

They were slated to take to the hardwood on Tuesday, but a blast of winter changed those plans dramatically.  Schools being let out early due to road conditions meant no competition, and no practice time.  After six days, the Bison finally got to take to the court of the Bison Gymnasium, making up the game that was slated for Tuesday as they would host the Philipsburg-Osceola Mounties.

Despite the long wait, the Bison came out ready…and wouldn’t let up.  Clearfield would hit their first five shots, while holding the opposition in check for 32 minutes.  After two quarters of play, the Bison were in the lead, but a breakaway third quarter would ultimately put the game away.  It was a big night for the home squad as they would come away with the 80-42 decisive victory.

Head coach Nate Glunt was happy with the win, but knew coming into the night there was a lot of worry due to the lack of practice and playing time from Tuesday’s weather.

“It was a long layoff and it was very concerning having the day off where you can’t practice,” he said.  “Then you come back and practice after the day off; I was really concerned how we were going to come out and play tonight.”

His concern was quickly gone as the Bison would hit their first basket mere seconds after tip off as Evan Brown drained a three-point bucket.  That would become a theme on the night as Clearfield would go 10-for-25 from behind the arc, with Will Myers and Tommy Hazel each hittinging three a piece.

That kind of shooting, along with strong defense, gave Clearfield a 23-8 lead after one quarter of play, and it would be pushed to a 42-18 margin at halftime.

Despite the success on the outside, Glunt felt they were settling for the outside shot instead of penetrating.

“I thought our kids did well, but I wish we had gotten the ball inside more in the first half.  I thought we were settling for three’s when we could have gotten the ball inside more,” he said.  “We did a better job of that in the third quarter, getting the ball inside rather than settling for three’s.”

That third quarter was all about one player:  Cody Spaid.

It seemed as if the 6′ 7″ senior was untouchable in the eight minutes of action, as he would punctuate his night by scoring 15 of his game-high 19 points in the frame, missing only one shot from the floor.  He would account for nearly half of the scoring for the Bison, and would out-score the entire Mountie squad in the frame as well.

Glunt was extremely pleased out of halftime of the changes made to get the ball inside to their big man, and it showed with his performance.

“That’s what he’s capable of.  I need to do a better job of getting him the ball, and teach the kids that the ball is going to Cody before we shoot the three’s, or to (Caleb) Strouse or (David) McKenzie.  We have to go inside more, rather than shoot the three’s,” Glunt said.

All five Bison starters would hit double digits, with Myers and Brown each adding 14 points, Tommy Hazel with 15, and Brown accounting for 10.  Hazel, Spaid, Myers and Ethan McGinnis also had a big night on the boards, all pulling in six rebounds a piece.  Combined, the Bison would get 38 rebounds compared to P-O, who finished with 23.

Josiah Davis would be the lone P-O player to hit double digits as he accounted for 16 points, along with six rebounds.

Spaid’s big performance in the third quarter would force a P-O timeout at the 3:20 mark of the game.  With the shooting of he, Brown and McKenzie in the frame, game officials came to the scoring bench.  The Bison pushed past the 40-point margin for the lead, which would put the Mercy Rule in effect. The clock would only stop on time outs and shooting fouls, but at that point the game was well in hand, and the young players then took to the court for some playing time of their own.

Glunt was pleased to see every player get some time on the court, and nearly everyone get a scoring opportunity.  To him, it shows how great of a group they are on the court, and off the court as well.

“They are all buddies, and are so unselfish.  They get just as much pleasure from the assist as they do the shot,” Glunt said.

The Bison would fall in the junior varsity game to start the night in a 47-41 final.

Glunt’s squad sits 12-1 atop the Mountain League standings, and appears to be the team to beat heading into the latter part of the season.  But even with that, Glunt and the team continue to build on what they did right, and what they did wrong, to make themselves a more cohesive unit.

“We’re continuing to try and get better every day.  Take it one game at a time, and just try and be better tomorrow than we were today,” Glunt said.

Clearfield is back on the home court on Friday night as they will host the Central Dragons with the jayvee tip-off slated for 6 p.m.  It has been deemed “Black Out Night” at the Bison Gymnasium, and it is encouraged that fans in attendance wear black for the occasion.

SCORE BY QUARTER

Philipsburg-Osceola  8   10   11   13  –  42
Clearfield  23   19   31   7  –  80

Philipsburg-Osceola 42

Belinda 3 0-0 6, Davis 6 2-3 16, Scalzo 0 0-0 0, Jones 0 0-0 0, Slogosky 1 0-0 3, Guelich 3 1-1 7, Dixon 0 0-0 0, Domblisky 0 0-0 0, Martin 0 0-0 0, Albert 2 0-2 4, Jeffries 1 0-0 2, Wisor 2 0-0 4, Smith 0 0-0 0, Conklin 0 0-0 0.  TOTALS 18 3-6 42.

Clearfield 80

McGinnis 0 0-0 0, Evans 1 0-0 2, Lezzer 0 0-0 0, Gates 1 0-0 2, Brown 6 0-2 14, Lynch 1 0-0 2, Strouse 1 0-0 2, Porter 0 0-0 0, McKenzie 4 2-4 10, Hazel 6 0-0 15, Spaid 8 1-1 19, Myers 5 1-1 14.  TOTALS 33 4-8 80.

GAME STATISTICS
P-O/Clearfield

Team Rebounds:  23/38

Turnovers:  20/10

Team Fouls:  6/8

Shooting:  18-45/33-70

Three-Point Baskets:  Davis (2), Slogosky; Myers (3), Hazel (3), Spaid (2), Brown (2)

Bison Scoreboard:

Date Opponent Score Record
12/07 CURWENSVILLE 76 – 35 1 – 0
12/09 @ Central ppd. 1 – 0
12/11 HUNTINGDON 77 – 64 2 – 0
12/15 BELLEFONTE 44 – 30 3 – 0
12/16 ST. MARYS 68 – 59 4 – 0
12/18 @ Tyrone 59 – 50 5 – 0
12/21 @ Punxsutawney 48 – 66 5 – 1
12/23 @ Bellefonte 56 – 39 6 – 1
12/29&30 Purchase Line Christmas Tourney
12/29 vs. Harmony 60 – 30 7 – 1
12/30 vs. Purchase Line 63 – 24 8 – 1
01/05 BROOKVILLE 64 – 48 9 – 1
01/06 BALD EAGLE AREA 89 – 56 10 – 1
01/08 @ Penns Valley 58 – 49 11 – 1
01/12 PHILIPSBURG-OSCEOLA ppd. 11 – 1
01/14 PHILIPSBURG-OSCEOLA 80 – 42 12 – 1
01/15 CENTRAL
01/18 DUBOIS
01/20 @ Huntingdon
01/26 TYRONE
01/29 @ Bald Eage Area
02/01 @ Central
02/03 PENNS VALLEY
02/05 @ Philipsburg-Osceola
02/08 @ Curwensville