CURWENSVILLE — To say that this year’s Curwensville Golden Tide cagers are a different team than even the one a year ago is an understatement. The way they play is fast, decisive, and they all came together quickly as a cohesive unit. That has become an advantage this early in the season as the Tide hosted Glendale on Thursday night inside Patton Hall, with a winning record and the hunger to continue the success. However, the Vikings were a team that also improved from a year ago, and were ready for a showdown.
It turned out to be exactly that, but the Tide would not yield, and took advantage of the Vikings late in the game at the foul line, pulling out a hard-earned 55-46 triumph.
The two squads battled tight through the first quarter, with the Tide holding a two-possession advantage. Glendale began reeling the opposition in through the second, as the two squads swapped the lead a couple times and kept one another honest throughout the quarter. Curwensville’s 27-22 lead would maintain through the entire third quarter, as both would keep even through the third.
The problem with the Vikings in the final quarter was fouls. The new rule with foul shots after five penalties per quarter was one that Curwensville used to their advantage. Through the first three quarters, the Tide only went to the line six times, making five shots. In the final quarter, the Vikings committed nine fouls, and in a tight game they were hoping to have Curwensville miss some shots and get a chance to reel them in. Sadly, Curwensville did not give them the opportunity, as they went to the line 12 times in the final stanza, draining eight of the shots to pull a lead just large enough to hold onto the victory.
Both squads saw one player eclipse the 20-point mark, as Davis Fleming would bucket a game-high 27 points in the victory Teammate Parker Wood added in another 12. For Glendale, the lone player to hit double figures was Landen McGarvey with 22 points.
Sitting at 4-2, the Tide have one more game remaining in the week as Curwensville is back on their home court Friday night. Despite school not being in session as Christmas break officially began when classes let out Thursday afternoon, the team will take to the hardwood against Bucktail. Jayvees will tip off at 6 p.m. with the varsity action to follow at 7:30 p.m.
SCORE BY QUARTER
Glendale 9 13 14 10 – 46
Curwensville 15 12 14 14 – 55
Glendale – 46
Connor Potutschnig 2 0-0 5, Jacob Lukehart 1 0-0 2, Joey Kitko 2 2-2 6, Mason Eckenrode 2 0-0 5, Landen McGarvey 9 1-3 22, David Frowner 1 0-0 2, Rhylan Howsick-Bell 1 1-2 4. TOTALS 18 4-7 46.
Curwensville – 55
Grant Swanson 1 0-0 3, Davis Fleming 11 4-4 27, Chandler English 1 0-0 2, Braden Holland 0 4-6 4, Hunter Tkacik 1 0-0 2, Louie Tkacik 0 5-6 5, Parker Wood 6 0-2 12. TOTALS 20 13-18 55.
GOLDEN TIDE SCOREBOARD:
Date Opponent Score Record
12/06 @ Harmony 79 – 60 1 – 0
12/08 @ St. Joe’s Catholic 69 – 45 2 – 0
12/11 WILLIAMSBURG 53 – 63 2 – 1
12/14 @ Juniata Valley 81 – 95 2 – 2
12/18 CLAYSBURG-KIMMEL 67 – 59 3 – 2
12/21 GLENDALE 55 – 46 4 – 2
12/22 BUCKTAIL
12/28 CLEARFIELD
01/02 HARMONY
01/05 @ Brockway
01/08 WEST BRANCH
01/11 @ Mo Valley
01/16 @ Williamsburg
01/19 @ Mt. Union
01/23 JUNIATA VALLEY
01/26 @ Glendale
02/02 @ West Branch
02/05 KEYSTONE
02/06 MO VALLEY
02/10 @ DuBois Central Catholic
02/13 @ Clearfield
02/15 @ Bucktail
