JOHNSTOWN — Before the snow was set to come into the area, another special night of basketball was on tap for Clearfield. For the second time this season, both the Bison and the Lady Bison would have the duty of having no junior varsity contests, but would play a special double-header slate for the fans. Unlike the first time around, Clearfield would be the one on the road as they made the long haul to Johnstown for a battle against Westmont Hilltop.
To start the night off, the Lady Bison took to the court for their second game of the week, feeling good after a strong showing against Huntingdon. The middle portion of the game looked solid for the visitors. But, trouble to open the game, and the finish, gave Clearfield a 54-34 loss that felt very disheartening.
Clearfield’s biggest struggle on the night was not putting up points when the opportunity came. The team only made 13 shots from the floor, but at the foul line was the most costly. The Lady Bison shot a measly 7-for-19 at the stripe, and missing those shots took away a lot of confidence and left a lot of questions lingering after such a strong showing days earlier.
After falling behind by two possessions in the first quarter, the Lady Bison began reeling in the Lady Hilltoppers in the second quarter, and carried that over into the third. Westmont still outscored them all three quarters, leading Clearfield into a 10-point gap in the final stanza. Unfortunately for Clearfield, Westmont turned it up on the opposition, setting the 20-point deficit at night’s end.
Westmont’s Beth Buettner led all scoring, dropping 18 points. Devyn Shingler added in 13 and Christiana Gordon accounted for another 12. For Clearfield, Sonny Diehl led the team with 13 points, while Cayleigh Walker added in another 10.
Next up for the Lady Bison (5-5) is a trip to Philipsburg on Wednesday to face the Lady Mounties.
SCORE BY QUARTER
Clearfield 9 10 9 6 – 34
Westmont 14 13 11 16 – 54
Clearfield – 34
Sonny Diehl 6 1-7 13, Hannah Glunt 1 3-5 5, Alayna Winters 0 0-0 0, Cayleigh Walker 4 2-3 10, Mia Helsel 2 1-4 6, Caitlyn Albertson 0 0-0 0, Elia Evilsizor 0 0-0 0. TOTALS 13 7-19 34.
Westmont Hilltop – 54
Christiana Gordon 5 1-3 12, Zoey Lynch 0 4-8 4, Beth Buettner 7 0-0 18, Devyn Shingler 5 3-5 13, Maggie O’Neil 1 0-0 2, Aubrey Shingler 1 1-2 3, Maya Elliott 1 0-0 2. TOTALS 20 9-18 54.
After the ladies headed to the locker room, the warm ups began for the boys team, as Clearfield was trying to get in the win column for the first time in 2024. Meanwhile, the uphill climb was tough as the one-loss Hilltoppers were looking to continue their strong campaign. This game, from start to finish, belonged to the home squad. Clearfield found itself in an early hole, falling 72-47, their ninth loss on the season.
The common theme this year for Clearfield has been the slow start offensively, and this night was no exception.
Westmont’s defense limited opportunities all over the court, as the Bison only put up 11 points in the opening quarter. By contrast, the Hilltoppers dropped 24 points to take the early lead. The home squad continued the run in the second quarter, although the Bison began to put up a better run to keep pace. Heading into halftime, the Bison trailed 44-26.
The third quarter was enough to put the game away as the Bison came out flat, and Westmont took advantage, extending the lead to 60-35.
The squads tied in the final quarter, but Westmont’s starters got some rest as the underclassmen took to the court to finish the night out. Clearfield followed suit, allowing many young players to get some playing time.
Despite the loss, Clearfield’s Braison Patrick had a strong performance bucketing 23 points and hauling in five rebounds. Evett Maines added in another 12 points, and accounted for the only two free throws for Clearfield. Westmont was led by Noah Brownlee, who had a game-high 25 points, while Jonathan Crocco dropped 17 and Grant Craig added in another 12.
The Bison (1-9) host the Philipsburg-Osceola Mounties on Monday.
SCORE BY QUARTER
Clearfield 11 15 9 12 – 47
Westmont 24 20 16 12 – 72
Clearfield – 47
Evett Maines 4 2-2 12, Braison Patrick 10 0-0 23, Braylen Way 2 0-0 4, Cooper Broad 2 0-0 5, Kai Lynch 1 0-0 3, Noah Rumfola 0 0-0 0, Carter Kasken 0 0-0 0, O’Brian Owens 0 0-0 0, Tanner Kasken 0 0-0 0. TOTALS 19 2-2 47.
Westmont Hilltop – 72
Grant Craig 5 0-0 12, Jacob Rhoades 1 0-0 2, Ethan Fortson 0 0-0 0, Jonathan Crocco 6 2-2 17, Caden Miller 1 0-0 2, Jack Wesner 1 1-2 4, Noah Brownlee 10 5-6 25, Blake Weslager 1 1-2 3, Aidan Kohan 0 2-2 2, Brady Cox 0 0-0 0, Anthony Oakley 0 0-0 0, Sully Weir 0 0-0 0. TOTALS 25 11-14 72.
Both teams will be back on the court next week, and will take on the same opponent, Philipsburg-Osceola. The Lady Bison (5-5) hit the halfway point of their schedule on Wednesday when they play host to the Lady Mounties. Meanwhile, the boys squad (1-9) also hit the halfway point of the season against P-O, but will instead play the role of host on Monday, inside the Bison Gymnasium.
The Bison will tip-off at 6 p.m. for junior varsity, with the varsity contest to follow.