HYDE — Having a long wait to get back on the court can have advantages and disadvantages for any team. It was last Friday when the Lady Bison of Clearfield took to the hardwood, and fell to a very talented and difficult to defend Johnstown squad. It would be the middle of the week before they returned to the hardwood for competition, as the Bison Gymnasium welcomed in fans from the cold outside air to see a Laurel Highlands Athletic Conference showdown between long-time rivals Clearfield and the visiting Bellefonte Lady Raiders.
The difference in this game as the minutes wore on was being able to secure the ball and second-chance opportunities. That advantage fell the way of the Lady Bison, as they had many second and third chances late in the game to take charge of a 72-50 triumph to get back in the win column.
“We have to win that battle with Sonny (Diehl) and Cayleigh (Walker), for sure, plus Hannah jumping in there as well,” head coach Missy Helsel said afterwards.
Clearfield needed every bit of the 45 rebounds they pulled in because in the early going, the shooting struggles that have plagued them in the last few games continued in the opening quarter, as the Lady Bison finished just 5-for-22 from the floor, including many from deep in the paint. Helsel admitted that the shooting struggles are their biggest issue early in the season, saying, “We still miss too many of those layups. Whether it’s not being focused, not seeing our target, it’s hard to say.”
The Lady Raiders held an early 7-3 advantage in the first, but Clearfield finished the opening stanza on a 13-0 run that the visitors never recovered from. That momentum continued in the second quarter, with Mia Helsel leading the charge with seven of her tying game-high 21 points in the stanza. Clearfield pulled out to a 31-16 advantage heading into halftime.
What made the biggest difference in the second half was Clearfield’s ability to sustain possessions and get rebounds. Led by the play of Diehl and Walker, the Lady Raiders were unable to get many second-chance opportunities on their end of the court, while Clearfield pulled down boards on each end to push the offense ahead for good. Helsel watched her team make moves to penetrate, and played smart with the ball in their passes and getting open for shots. When the ball missed the rim, unlike in the first half, the battle was tight under the rim and it led to easier points.
“We worked a lot on our offense the last couple days at practice; being able to come out and execute it tonight gives us a lot of encouragement and confidence going into the rest of the Laurel Highlands schedule,” Helsel said. “We’re seeing each other, and making the right cuts.
“Those two loses, we made a lot of mistakes, and I felt we beat ourselves in each of them. The things we’re working on correcting are helping us as a team, and individually.”
Walker finished with 21 points alongside Helsel, but added in 11 rebounds for a double-double performance. Diehl would have just as many boards, and added in 15 points, as she would achieve her third double-double in the first five games. Glunt added into the double-digit performance with 11 points and a game-high seven assists.
Clearfield also took victory in the junior varsity contest, 30-14, to start the night.
Helsel could tell her team was capable of such a performance as they put on against the Lady Raiders, and with nearly the entire schedule having to do with opponents from the Laurel Highlands conference, every game would matter, and how her team prepares before each game becomes more critical.
“We came in prepared just like we would for any of the LHAC teams,” she said. “You cannot take anyone for granted in this league, and we’re just happy to be battling every night.”
Clearfield (3-2) will make a road trip on Friday night to face off with Bishop Guilfoyle.
SCORE BY QUARTER
Bellefonte 7 9 10 24 – 50
Clearfield 17 14 19 22 – 72
Bellefonte – 50
Maria Cotter 5 1-3 11, Mackenzie Ellenberger 4 1-2 10, Madison Ripka 2 0-0 6, Keira Whitman 9 1-2 19, Gianna Jesseh 2 0-0 4, Emma Ranio 0 0-0 0, Madalynn Lucas 0 0-0 0, Talia Cotter 0 0-0 0. TOTALS 22 3-7 50.
Clearfield – 72
Sonny Diehl 7 1-4 15, Carsyn Walker 0 0-0 0, Hannah Glunt 4 0-0 11, Alayna Winters 2 0-0 4, Cayleigh Walker 9 3-3 21, Mia Helsel 7 5-6 21, Myleigh Hudson 0 0-0 0, Caitlyn Alberson 0 0-0 0, Elia Evilsizor 0 0-0 0. TOTALS 29 9-13 72.
GAME STATISTICS
Bellefonte/Clearfield
- Shooting: 22-63/29-78
- Rebounds: 33/45
- Fouls: 9/8
- Turnovers: 16/14
- Three-Point Shots: Ellenberger, Ripka-2/Glunt-3, Helsel-2
LADY BISON SCOREBOARD:
Date Opponent Score Record
12/01 @ Brookville Tip-Off Tourney vs. North Clarion 49 – 37 1 – 0
12/02 @ Brookville Tip-Off Tourney vs. Brookville 50 – 23 2 – 0
12/06 @ Central 43 – 57 2 – 1
12/08 GREATER JOHNSTOWN 43 – 60 2 – 2
12/13 BELLEFONTE 72 – 50 3 – 2
12/15 @ Bishop Guilfoyle
12/20 TYRONE
12/22 @ Hollidaysburg
01/03 HUNTINGDON
01/05 @ Westmont Hilltop
01/10 @ Philipsburg-Osceola
01/12 BELLWOOD-ANTIS
01/15 @ Penns Valley
01/18 BEDFORD
01/22 BALD EAGLE AREA
01/24 DUBOIS CENTRAL CATHOLIC
01/29 CENTRAL
02/02 @ Richland
02/05 @ Bellefonte
02/08 BISHOP GUILFOYLE
02/12 @ Tyrone
02/14 @ Curwensville