Bison Cagers Use Second Half Surge to Power Past Tyrone

HYDE — For the Clearfield Bison, their one-loss record this season has seen many different games when it comes to how they have won.  They have won close games, and others have been dominant performances.  But above all else, the one thing they expect each time they take the court is a challenge.

On Tuesday night, in front of one of the best crowds the Bison Gymnasium has seen all season, they were ready for one of the biggest challenges of the year.  Hoping to hand Clearfield their second loss of the year were the Golden Eagles of Tyrone, a team Clearfield beat 59-50 back on December 18 on the Eagles’ home court.

That loss fueled Tyrone through the first two quarters, as they would take the early lead, and not give it up through the first 16 minutes.  But the home squad still kept their focus, even when things at some points were going every which way but right.  They never quit, and when it mattered the most, the entire team stepped up to make it a battle.  The crowd began getting into it, and soon the Bison were feeling it, and started hitting shots, and getting rebounds.

The game was physical, but when the buzzer went off, the Bison were looking up at the scoreboard as they would be on the positive end of a 57-47 victory.

Afterwards, head coach Nate Glunt was glad to play a team like the Golden Eagles, because of how they play the game.

“I’m glad we played Tyrone because they force you to do things right defensively.  They execute their offense well and crash the boards,” Glunt said.  “If you don’t box out, you’re done, because they are physical.  We found a way to win without shooting the ball that well.”

Tyrone was playing tough defense from the opening tip, forcing Clearfield to go to the outside for shots, and many of them were off the mark.  After one quarter, Clearfield was down 13-7, and were still down at halftime 29-25.  But in the second half, the Bison adjusted their play to exploit some gaps in the Tyrone man-to-man defense, and got to hit some inside shots.

“I was happy to see that.  I didn’t know if we could win a game without making a 3-point shot, and we made two three’s the whole game.  We had great (outside shots), they just missed, and that’s going to happen sometimes,” Glunt said.  “But we found a way to get some defensive stops.”

The biggest influences in the second half were first Cody Spaid, who led all scoring with 15 points, getting both offensive and defensive rebounds.  He would end the night with a season-high 19 boards.  Second was Evan Brown, who was able to make cuts into the paint to find some layups to bring the Bison closer to the lead, eventually getting it about halfway through the third quarter.

“He (Brown) got three fouls in the first half, and that hurt us, and Tommy (Hazel) wasn’t looking for his shot.  Will (Myers) wasn’t hitting anything, so to come out that big in the second half was huge,” Glunt said.  “We played harder, screened better, cut harder; just all the little things.

“Tyrone just wanted it more in the first half.”

“I thought our offensive rebounds were key to the game in the second half.  We missed a couple shots, but we got the offensive rebounds, and got points off the put backs.  It was a good way to find a way to win,” Glunt said.

In going with their more aggressive play, Clearfield held Tyrone to only six points in the third quarter.

At the same time, Tyrone was trying to pull the reigns in thanks to Anthony Politza, who led Tyrone with 13 points.  However midway through the third quarter, he was pulled to the bench because of picking up both his third and fourth fouls.  Pulling the senior to the sidelines opened up some opportunities for Clearfield, who took the lead entering the final quarter, 41-35.

The final nail in the coffin for the Golden Eagles came when there was no action on the floor.  Parker Mitchell picked up the team’s ninth foul in the half on an attempted basket by Hazel, who was ready to go to the line for his 1-and-1 free throw.

While they were getting ready to shoot the basket, Mitchell was jawing with the referee on the call, and suddenly the whistle blew and Mitchell was called with a technical foul.  Not only was it his fifth foul of the game, but it also was a domino effect for Tyrone.  Hazel would first attempt his 1-and-1 shot, which banked off the back of the rim.  Then,  Will Myers shot the two free throws for the technical, both of which went in the net.  Clearfield would then get the possession after the foul, and finally with 10 fouls on the board, the Bison would go to the line with each foul that followed.

Politza would foul out soon after, also ending his night early.  Clearfield’s final nine points came from the charity stripe, and clinched the victory.

The Bison lost the junior varsity contest that opened the night, 49-41.

At 16-1, the Bison are in the hunt to lock up the Mountain League title.  However, they also only have one final home game coming up, that being next week.  Which for Glunt is bitter-sweet, because one of the things he has mentioned often over the course of the season has been the crowds that have come out for the games, especially ones that are between league teams and both are tough programs.

Glunt wanted to make sure that he appreciated the fans, the kids, and their parents for all they have done for the basketball program.

“We had a real nice crowd (tonight).  They are so supportive.  I can’t tell you how many times earlier this year when me and my family went trick-or-treating, I had people telling me ‘Good luck, coach Glunt’ and that’s awesome,” Glunt said.  “I think they see that we have good kids.  Just real thankful for the support from the community.”

Clearfield is on the road this Friday night as they travel to face Bald Eagle, whom they defeated 89-56 back on January 8.

SCORE BY QUARTER

Tyrone  13   16   6   12  –  47
Clearfield  11   14   16   16  –  57

Tyrone 47

Soellner 3 0-0 7, Mitchell 2 0-2 6, Meredith 2 0-0 4, G. Weaver 1 0-0 2, A. Weaver 2 3-6 8, Lewis 2 0-1 4, Thomas 1 0-0 3, Politza 6 1-3 13.  TOTALS 19 4-12 47.

Clearfield 57

Brown 3 5-6 11, Strouse 2 1-2 5, McKenzie 3 3-5 9, Hazel 2 2-3 7, Spaid 7 1-4 15, Myers 3 3-5 10.  TOTALS 20 15-25 57.

GAME STATISTICS
Tyrone/Clearfield

Rebounds:  18/40

Turnovers:  10/11

Fouls:  23/12

Shooting:  19-51/20-51

Three-Point Shots:  Soellner, Mitchell (2), A. Weaver, Thomas/Myers, Hazel

Fouled Out:  Mitchell, Politza

Technicals:  Mitchell

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 67 – 50 13 – 1
01/18 DUBOIS 71 – 42 14 – 1
01/20 @ Huntingdon 92 – 48 15 – 1
01/26 TYRONE 57 – 47 16 – 1
01/29 @ Bald Eage Area
02/01 @ Central
02/03 PENNS VALLEY
02/05 @ Philipsburg-Osceola
02/08 @ Curwensville