Brockway Second Half Comeback Topples Golden Tide, 53-48

BROCKWAY – For the second time in two games the Curwensville boys basketball tam found itself in a physical match-up against an Allegany Mountain league opponent. And for the second time in those two games the Golden Tide came out on the short side of the scoreboard.

The Tide traveled to Brockway Friday night and led by as many as 12 points in the third quarter, but it couldn’t hold off a comeback by the Rovers, losing 53-48.

To illustrate the physical nature of the game Curwensville took 26 free throws, making just 12. Brockway took 28 free throws, making just 15. Total combined foul shots was 54.

With numerous indecisive calls, a bunch of official huddles and the physical nature of the game, Curwensville head coach Matt Wassil would not make one single excuse, saying afterwards, “We need to play through games like this, and tonight we didn’t. We have no excuses, and this may have been our worst game that we played this season. And we are all disappointed.”

After the Rovers jumped out to a quick 4-0 lead the Tide scored seven straight points, four by Avery Francisco, to go in front 7-4 midway through the first quarter.

Curwensville would break a 10-all tie when Nick Stewart scored a basket near the end of the first as the Tide led 12-10 heading into the second quarter.

Tide senior Josh Terry scored nine points, including two three-pointers, in the second stanza to help his squad stretch the lead to 28-19 at intermission.

Curwensville continued to increase the lead in the third eight minutes of action and at the 4:10 mark of the quarter had a 12 point edge, 35-23.

Then along came Noah Vokes, a senior for Brockway, who dumped in nine tallies, all in the last 3:40 of third of the quarter, as the Rovers crept closer, down just by five, 37-32 going in the final period.

The Tide never did up its lead in the fourth quarter and the Rovers went in front for good at 48-45 on a three pointer by Alec Freemer with 2:50 remaining.

Christian Bakaysa pulled the Golden Tide to within one at 49-48 with a basket at the 1:50 point; but that would be the end of the scoring for Curwensville.

Rover Jon Wood iced the game by going four of four from the line in the final 22 seconds.

Curwensville is now 7-7 on the year while Brockway went above .500 at 8-7.

Wassil further commented, “We didn’t take care of the ball, with too many deflections that gave the ball right back to Brockway. The guys just didn’t secure the ball and we missed too many shots inside the paint.”

Terry paced the Tide offense with a game high 24 points while Wood had 16 for the Rovers followed by Vokes with 14.

In the junior varsity game Brockway edged the Tide 41-40. High scorer for the Tide was Jeremy Irwin with 11 points.

Curwensville and Brockway will play again on Tuesday night in a make-up from January 5, and then again January 12, as that game was postponed twice due to inclement weather. The JV game begins at 6 pm with the varsity to immediately follow.

CURWENSVILLE – 48
Josh Terry 8 4-10 24, Devon Barrett 0 2-2 2, Nick Stewart 1 0-0 2, Christian Bakaysa 3 5-12 11, Avery Francisco 3 1-2 7, Dakota Bloom 1 0-0 2, Jeremy Irwin 0 0-0 0, Noah Von Gunden 0 0-0 0
TOTALS – 16 12-26 48

BROCKWAY – 53
Zane Puhala 4 0-6 8, Noah Vokes 6 2-7 14, Anthony Esposito 0 0-0 0, Carter Adams 2 3-4 7, Jon Wood 4 7-7 16, Alec Freemer 2 2-2 7, James Wood 0 0-0 0, Dylan LeCates 0 0-0 0, Josh Salada 0 1-2 1
TOTALS – 18 15-28 53

SCORE BY QUARTERS:
CURWENSVILLE 12 16 9 11 48
BROCKWAY 10 9 13 21 53
THREE-POINTERS: CURWENSVILLE – 4 Terry 4 BROCKWAY – 2 Jon Wood, Freemer

OFFICIALS: Bill Barton, Jeff Curtis, Chris Taylor