MARTINSBURG — The season has not been kind to the Clearfield Bison on the hardwood. The effort has been there every game, but the results have not been what have been expected. Still, the season had a lot to play for, and the squad was not giving in at any point. The Bison loaded up the bus for a trip out to Martinsburg on Wednesday night for a contest against the Central Dragons.
The defining moments of this game were the sluggish start and free shots at the basket. Clearfield came out of the gate a bit slow, and tried to rally. However, foul shooting paid dividends for the Dragons, and felt costly for the Bison, as they would fall 46-38.
Neither team saw much success in the opening quarter, with only 13 points scored between the two. Central held the single-possession lead entering the second quarter, and that was the stanza that made the first difference. The Bison would not have any momentum for the next eight minutes, struggling against the defense, and costly turnovers would halt possessions. The Bison would be outscored 19-8 in the second quarter, giving Central a double digit lead heading into halftime, 26-14.
Still, Clearfield was not yielding, and came out in the second half aggressive, penetrating into the paint and getting shots to fall. What was a double-digit lead for the Dragons suddenly was a mere two-possession gap.
What ultimately cost Clearfield in the end was the Dragons having opportunities at the foul line, and the Bison not having any.
For the third consecutive game, the Bison would not see any chances to get easy points at the charity stripe. The loss to Bald Eagle and the win against Bedford the week prior were the exact same. No chances at the foul line, although each game was a different feeling. In the fourth quarter, the Dragons only managed to make one shot from the floor. But, in the final quarter, they would go to the foul line 10 different times with three players. Only one of those shots would not fall in the net. Central finished the game 10-for-14 from the foul line.
Central’s Eli Muthler led all scoring on the night with 17 points, with Hunter Smith accounting for another 11. Clearfield’s Parker Collins led the team with 12 points, with Braison Patrick right on his heels with 11.
For the first time in the Glunt era, Clearfield will not finish above .500 on the year, as their record sits at 4-13. The squad is back in action on Friday night on the road against Richland. Clearfield, for the third time, will be part of a double-header night. The Lady Bison will also be on the road against Richland on Friday, as they will be the early tip-off. Following that game, the Bison will take to the floor, with the opening tip happening at approximately 7:30 p.m.
SCORE BY QUARTER
Clearfield 6 8 16 8 – 38
Central 7 19 9 11 – 46
Clearfield – 38
Parker Collins 5 0-0 12, Evett Maines 1 0-0 2, Braison Patrick 4 0-0 11, Anthony Lopez 1 0-0 2, Braylen Way 3 0-0 8, Cooper Broad 1 0-0 3, Kai Lynch 0 0-0 0, Jake Rumfola 0 0-0 0, Noah Rumfola 0 0-0 0. TOTALS 15 0-0 38.
Central – 45
Hunter Smith 3 4-4 11, Eli Muthler 5 4-4 17, Troy Butler 2 0-0 5, Nick Garver 1 1-2 4, Brady Albright 2 1-2 5, Robert Long-Karrison 0 0-2 0, Mason Byler 1 0-0 2, Mark Bettwy 1 0-0 2. TOTALS 15 10-14 45.