ALTOONA — Feeling empowered after the big win on Wednesday night, the Lady Bison of Clearfield had to take that feeling on the road two days later for another hard battle in the Laurel Highlands Athletic Conference. This time, the Lady Marauders of Bishop Guilfoyle came calling, and were ready for a tight contest.
It certainly was that from the start, because both teams battled tight and clean, bouncing back and forth between who would hold the advantage. Sadly, struggles in the middle portion of the contest cost Clearfield, who fell 46-38, in a game that could have gone either way.
The visitors showed that they were feeling strong and played tough in the first eight minutes, taking a one-point advantage into the second quarter. However, that advantage was short lived because the Lady Marauders began playing tight defense, limiting shots, and the ones that Clearfield tried to make, could not make it in the cylinder. Bishop Guilfoyle doubled-up the point total in the second quarter, taking a 24-19 lead into the halftime break.
Clearfield began trying to reel in the opposition in the second half, but could not overcome the second-quarter struggles. The key struggle they faced all game was the inability to put free points on the board at the charity stripe. Clearfield finished the night 7-for-16 at the line, while the home squad finished 11-for-18.
Maurie Avery led all scoring for the Lady Maraders, finishing with 13 points. Clearfield had a pair make it into double digits, with Sonny Diehl bucketing 12 while Cayleigh Walker added in 10.
Sitting at 3-3, Clearfield has a few days to rest as they will play two final games in the calendar year next week. The lone home contest remaining for 2023 comes on Wednesday with the Tyrone Lady Eagles coming in for another LHAC showdown. It is a full slate on the night as the junior varsity contest will tip at 6 p.m. with the varsity to follow.
SCORE BY QUARTER
Clearfield 14 5 7 12 – 38
Bishop Guilfoyle 13 11 8 14 – 46
Clearfield – 38
Sonny Diehl 6 0-0 12, Hannah Glunt 2 1-2 7, Alayna Winters 0 0-0 0, Cayleigh Walker 3 4-7 10, Mia Helsel 2 3-7 7, Elia Evilsizor 1 0-0 2. TOTALS 14 7-16 38.
Bishop Guilfoyle – 46
Hannah Homan 2 2-4 6, Maurie Avery 5 2-2 13, Amberlyn Petrecca 3 2-3 8, Stella Yeskey 1 2-4 4, Alana Lightner 2 2-4 6, Gia Adams 2 0-0 6, Riley Gory 0 0-0 0, Delany Lechner 1 1-2 3. TOTALS 16 11-18 46.