JOHNSTOWN — The Greater Johnstown girls basketball team got out to a fast start Friday evening against visiting Clearfield, drilling five, first-quarter 3-pointers to take a 21-11 lead into the second frame. The Lady Trojans extended the advantage to 23 points by the half and went on to win the game 61-43.
Johnstown shot 22-of-48 through three quarters of play, connecting on eight of its 21 tries from behind the arc as it led 56-28 heading to the fourth. Clearfield struggled from the field and the free throw line throughout the game, hitting just 19 of its 59 shots for a 32.2 shooting percentage. The Lady Bison were also just 3-of-13 from the charity stripe.
“We had a tough shooting night,” Clearfield head coach Missy Helsel said. “Johnstown is a nice team. They shot well from the field. We gave them too many second-chance opportunities.”
That was especially true in the second quarter when the Lady Bison were only 3-of-17 from the field, while getting outrebounded 13-4.
Greater Johnstown got out to the 21-11 advantage, mostly due to its hot start from behind the arc. Zayona Thomas and Zaniyah Reed each drilled a pair of 3-pointers in the frame, while Clearfield’s Sonny Diehl did her best to keep Clearfield close with six points and five rebounds.
After both teams hit early field goals in the second to make it 23-13, Johnstown went on a 13-0 run as Clearfield went nearly four minutes without a point. Thomas hit two more 3s, while NaLonai Tisinger netted five points and was very active on the boards, helping the Lady Trojans take a 40-17 lead to the break.
Johnstown led by as many as 31 in the third, spurred on by Marcella White, who scored seven of her 10 points in the frame. White was one of four Lady Trojans in double figures. Thomas paced Johnstown with 17 points, while Tisinger (14) and Reed (12) also hit double digits.
Clearfield finished the game with a 15-5 fourth quarter, getting eight points from Diehl, who led all players with 18 points and 16 rebounds, including 10 offensive.
Eve Helsel and Mia Helsel each netted eight points. Myleigh Hudson added eight rebounds.
Johnstown held a 35-30 edge on the boards. Tisinger led the way with 11 rebounds. Aubreyonna Nash added nine boards and dished out six assists.
The Lady Trojans improved to 4-4 with the win, while Clearfield slipped to 3-3.
The Lady Bison are back in action January 3, hosting Westmont Hilltop.
Clearfield—43
Sonny Diehl 8 2-8 18, Eve Helsel 4 0-0 8, Mia Helsel 3 0-0 8, Myleigh Hudson 2 1-4 5, Hannah Glunt 2 0-1 4. Totals: 19 3-13 43.
Johnstown—61
Zayona Thomas 6 1-2 17, Aubreyonna Nash 3 1-2 7, Marcella White 3 2-2 10, NaLonai Tisinger 6 2-5 14, Sha’Kia Young 0 1-2 1, Kass Hardison 0 0-0 0, Zaniyah Reed 5 0-0 12, Kayona Jeffers 0 0-0 0, Emma Cypher 0 0-0 0, Zayla Thomas 0 0-0 0. Totals: 23 7-13 61.
Three-pointers: Clearfield 2 (M. Helsel); Johnstown 8 (Thomas 4, White 2, Reed 2).
Score by Quarters
Clearfield 11 6 11 15—43
Johnstown 21 19 16 5—61
LADY BISON SCOREBOARD:
Date Opponent Score Record
12/03 CENTRAL 61 – 58 1 – 0
12/06 @ Brookville Tip-Off Tourney cancelled 1 – 0
12/07 @ Brookville Tip-Off Tourney cancelled 1 – 0
12/11 @ Bellefonte 71 – 18 2 – 0
12/13 BISHOP GUILFOYLE 50 – 54 2 – 1
12/18 @ Tyrone 62 – 56 3 – 1
12/20 HOLLIDAYSBURG 50 – 88 3 – 2
12/27 @ Greater Johnstown 43 – 61 3 – 3
01/03 WESTMONT HILLTOP
01/06 @ Huntingdon
01/08 PHILIPSBURG-OSCEOLA
01/10 @ Bellwwod Antis
01/13 PENNS VALLEY
01/17 @ Bedford
01/20 @ Bald Eagle Area
01/23 @ Dubois Central
01/24 @ Northern Clarion
01/27 @ Central
01/31 RICHLAND
02/03 BELLEFONTE
02/06 @ Bishop Guilfoyle
02/10 TYRONE
02/13 CURWENSVILLE
