HYDE — The key worry among the entire Clearfield Lady Bison group, whether coaches, players, or even fans, was how the team was going to look when the 2024 part of the schedule began. With the prior game happening all the way back on Friday, December 22, the long layoff had some concern of if the team would not have the spark that they had through the opening month. After nearly two entire weeks off, the Bison Gymnasium was ready for some basketball as the Lady Bison hit the hardwood with the Huntingdon Lady Bearcats ready to play spoiler for the 2024 opener.
At one point, the visitors certainly had the appearance of being ones to upend the home squad. But the battle continued for all 32 minutes, keeping the game close, and also physical but not chippy. Clearfield managed to get an early lead before halftime, and held on as Huntingdon roared back late, to take the win, 54-45.
For Lady Bison head coach Missy Helsel, a lot of things were a benefit in the win, but one characteristic stood out.
“Our defense, definitely. When we’re creating turnovers, and getting rebounds, forcing the other team to make mistakes, we can take advantage,” she said. “Our girls are learning to be more disciplined in those situations and finding the open target. Once we get a lead, our goal is to build and keep reaching.”
The opening quarter started well for Clearfield, as they got the opening 4-0 lead, but then Huntingdon went on a nine-point run to put the Lady Bison in an early hole. Still, the home squad would not quit, battling back and kept it close. After eight minutes, thanks to some hustle play on both ends of the court, Clearfield only found itself down by one after eight minutes.
The second quarter is when Clearfield’s defense took hold, and the starting five began making plays on both ends of the court. Cayleigh Walker read the defense and fed her teammates, as Sonny Diehl and Mia Helsel hit key buckets to put the Lady Bison out front. Defensively, they were gaining rebounds and forcing Huntingdon turnovers, winning the quarter by a three possession margin. Clearfield went into the locker room with a 29-23 lead, and with possession to start the third quarter.
Even with the lead, Clearfield’s pace was still full-tilt while still in control, something Helsel wants her team to do no matter the score.
“I feel like when we try and slow our pace down, we end up with more mistakes than if we continue at the pace we are used to playing, especially in a four-quarter game like this,” she said. “We’re trying to be very active, so they seem to do better in those type of situations, and are more comfortable.
“And that was the gameplan; if we get down here and get a nice look, I want the girls to take the shot, whether a trey, layup, floater or jump shot. They all have the green light to go for it as long as it’s a good shot.”
Huntingdon made things interesting in the third quarter, as Lily Borger began to find her groove, putting up seven of her team-high 17 points in the quarter. Clearfield found itself making some miscues to keep the Lady Bearcats in the game, but held on to win the third, clinging to a 41-33 advantage, but momentum clearly falling into the hands of the visitors. That momentum carried into the fourth, as Huntingdon and Clearfield began to engage in a physical contest that some fans in the stands felt was getting to be too much. However, officials let the play go, even getting some controversial calls on possessions and turnovers, many riling up the Huntingdon fans that made the trip north.
The coaching staff watched the lead shrink to within three at one point, but after a late timeout by Huntingdon, the Lady Bison found their spark.
A pair of threes from Helsel, part of her game-high 20 on the night, pushed the lead out to where Huntingdon had to play in hurry-up mode, and in doing so caused fouls and extended possessions. Three of the Lady Bison ended up in double figures, as Diehl finished with 14 points despite fouling out, while Hannah Glunt added in 10.
“That’s their job. I want all our starters to get a basket every quarter, a free throw every quarter, and our goal is to win every quarter. That’s just how we break it down, and we have to when we do have such a small bench to turn to. We just have to take it one quarter at a time,” Helsel said afterwards.
Walker finished the night as the leader on the boards, pulling down 11 for her team, while Glunt added in a half-dozen assists on the night.
Clearfield did fall in the opening junior varsity contest, 35-10.
Helsel was excited to see how her team kept the fast pace the entire game, noting that the unselfish play among the team in the final quarter helped put the game away, while also praising the Lady Bearcats for how hard they pushed her squad for the entire 32 minutes. She went on to complement the opposition, stating, “They’ve always been tough competition for us, and we’re definitely happy getting this win, especially after a long Christmas break without a game.”
The win puts Clearfield with a recond at 5-4, as they will head on the road Friday night. For the second time this year, the Lady Bison will be part of a unique schedule setup as they will travel to face Westmont Hilltop as part of another girls-guys double header. No junior varsity game will be played, as the Lady Bison will hit the court first with tip-off at 6 p.m.
SCORE BY QUARTER
Huntingdon 14 9 10 12 – 45
Clearfield 13 16 12 13 – 54
Huntingdon – 45
Lily Borger 6 5-6 17, Allison Lynn 3 0-0 9, Kaylee Querry 1 0-2 2, Lily Fiscus 4 1-1 9, Izzy Kazmarski 3 1-4 7, Morgan Guisler 0 0-0 0, Maycee Fox 0 0-0 0, Reagan Openshaw 0 0-0 0, Julia Foster 0 0-0 0, Alivia Nicklon 0 1-3 1. TOTALS 17 8-16 45.
Clearfield – 54
Sonny Diehl 7 0-1 14, Hannah Glunt 2 5-6 10, Alayna Winters 1 0-0 2, Cayleigh Walker 2 4-5 8, Mia Helsel 8 1-4 20, Elia Evilsizor 0 0-0 0. TOTALS 20 11-16 54.
GAME STATISTICS
Huntingdon/Clearfield
- Shooting: 17-64/20-61
- Rebounds: 30/29
- Fouls: 14/17
- Turnovers: 18/18
- Three-Point Shots: Lynn-3/Glunt, Helsel-3
- Foul Out: Querry/Diehl
- Team Warning: 2:13 (Delay of Game)
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 38 – 46 3 – 3
12/20 TYRONE 61 – 43 4 – 3
12/22 @ Hollidaysburg 29 – 64 4 – 4
01/03 HUNTINGDON 54 – 45 5 – 4
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