HUNTINGDON — The jolt of adrenaline that the Clearfield Bison basketball team felt when they finally got in the win column last Thursday night was a long time coming according to head coach Nate Glunt. The team has played hard all season long, showing that the best word to describe this group is “grit” as each game they put on an effort from tip to buzzer. The first game of the 2024 slate was back in the Laurel Highlands Athletic Conference, a road contest against a familiar foe, the Huntingdon Bearcats.
For 32 minutes, the Bison and Bearcats battled tooth-and-nail, with each showing strong moments and not giving in. Clearfield battled hard, but the effort fell just short, as they dropped the first game of the 2024 portion of the schedule, 57-51.
The Bison were a bit sluggish out the gate on this night, but had one of their better starts to a game that they’ve had in the early season. Despite that, they were down by two possessions after one quarter. But, the team battled back in the second to take the lead at one point. Huntingdon battled back, but Clearfield kept the opposition honest. After one half of play, Clearfield looked at a 30-26 gap that seemed to be within reach.
One factor that set the Bison back on this night was very little opportunities at the foul line. Only Anthony Lopez would reach the charity stripe on the night, going 3-for-5. By contrast, the Bearcats had six players get a chance at the line, finishing 12-for-17, with 12 of those attempts coming in the second half.
That allowed enough of a cushion to hold Clearfield at bay for the second half, edging out to a six-point win at night’s end.
Clearfield only had four players put up points, but three of them reached double figures. Evett Maines led the squad with a game-tying high of 19 points, while Parker Collins added in another 18. Lopez would chip in 11 for his effort. Collins managed to pull down eight rebounds, while Lopez added in another six, with Maines accounting for five. For Huntingdon, of the nine players that saw time on the court, eight of them accounted for scoring. Jackson Foster led the team with 19 points, while Ty Boyer added in another 17.
Sitting at 1-8, Clearfield has little time to rest as they will be back on the road on Friday night, as they will face off with Westmont Hilltop. This will be the second half of a special double-header night between the Bison and the Hilltoppers. The girls will be the opening contest, and the guys will follow. Tip off for the latter is slated for approximately 7:30 p.m.
SCORE BY QUARTER
Clearfield 10 16 10 15 – 51
Huntingdon 15 15 11 16 – 57
Clearfield – 51
Parker Collins 7 0-0 18, Evett Maines 9 0-0 19, Braison Patrick 1 0-0 3, Anthony Lopez 4 3-5 11, Braylen Way 0 0-0 0, Cooper Broad 0 0-0 0, Kai Lynch 0 0-0 0, Jake Rumfola 0 0-0 0, Noah Rumfola 0 0-0 0. TOTALS 21 3-5 51.
Huntingdon – 57
Jackson Foster 6 5-8 19, Ty Boyer 6 2-2 17, Nolan Susko 2 0-0 4, Owen Alexander 2 1-2 6, Elliott Guisler 1 1-1 3, Caleb Rutter 0 1-2 1, Hayden Dell 1 2-2 5, Connor Moore 1 0-0 2, Jakobie Norris 0 0-0 0. TOTALS 19 12-17 57.