Clearfield’s Fast Start Leads to Victory Over Mounties

HYDE — The early-season showdowns in the Laurel Highlands Athletic Conference involved a big matchup just a week into the 2025-2026 season, and the Clearfield Bison were ready to take their undefeated record into their home Bison Gymnasium on Thursday night. Their night involved a rival dating back to their Mountain League days, as the Philipsburg-Osceola Mounties also came rolling in with an unblemished record, riding high after a pair of major wins, including one over a strong West Branch squad.

The night started with one quick bucket, and many more followed. Two undefeated teams started the night, but the Bison made sure their record on the year stayed without a loss, cruising to a decisive 76-30 victory over P-O.

“We were fortunate to come out and play so hard early. Coach TJ (Anderson) does a fantastic job as coach, has his kids prepared to play, with energy,” Bison head coach Nate Glunt said afterwards. “We were able to match that tonight, and play unselfishly.”

That energy came out quick in the opening quarter, as the Bison quickly found the basket on a quick jumper by Evett Maines. P-O followed up with one of their own to tie it up once again, but that was the only time they were close. Immediately after, the Bison began rolling bucket after bucket, including a pair of three’s from Evett Maines and Braison Patrick. Clearfield rolled out to a 23-9 lead after one quarter.

They never let up at that point as Clearfield poured it on in the second quarter, but did so with a balanced look. Of the eight players in the main rotation, all but two would put up points in the second quarter.

Clearfield’s 33-10 run leading into halftime was enough to put the running clock into effect for the remainder of the game.

“It’s a credit to our kids, and their character, of how we play as a unit,” Coach Glunt said of his team’s scoring. “A coach can say, at any level, to play unselfish and make those shots, but sometimes it doesn’t happen. I’m fortunate to have a lot of kids that want to make the best play for the team”

Maines took the top spot in scoring for the night, putting up 20 points for the Bison, with Patrick close behind with 16, and Parker Collins adding in another 10. Clearfield also took charge in crashing the boards, out rebounding the Mounties by a wide margin, 32-19.

The second half saw a faster run with the clock only stopping at timeouts, foul shots, and between quarters. The lead was extended at the end of the third, 70-23, and Glunt elected for the final eight minutes to let his starters take an early curtain call and let his younger players get a chance to play. It was something that he valued even more than the play of his starters.

“It’s so valuable for them. There’s no wasted minutes. For those guys to get that varsity time at the end of the game, they can use it to study film, learn from it. Those minutes are so critical for them to get better, because those young guys are the ones building on what the starters do,” he said.

For P-O, Zack Meyers would lead the night in scoring, putting up 15 of the team’s points. The visitors struggled when opportunities were given at the foul line, finishing 7-for-15. Clearfield also took the win in the junior varsity contest, 44-23.

“The key now is to not have any complacency. Some teams are happy with that fast start, as we are, but it doesn’t mean anything starting tomorrow,” Glunt said of his team’s undefeated start to the year. “We have to continue to work to get better, so we are playing at our best at the end of the season, just like how we want to do it through the season as well.

“The hardest thing in sports is having success, but continuing to work to get better. The kids have done an absolute fantastic job so far, but tomorrow we go right back to work.”

The Bison (3-0) will have a trio of games next week, starting on Monday night when they travel to Spring Mills to face the Rams of Penns Valley.

SCORE BY QUARTER

Philipsburg-Osceola 9 10 4 7 – 30
Clearfield 23 33 14 6 – 76

Philipsburg-Osceola – 30

Meyers 6 3-6 15, Matia 0 0-0 0, Klinger 0 0-0 0, DeSimone 3 2-2 9, Mclenahan 0 0-0 0, D. Kendziora 0 1-4 1, J. Kendziora 0 0-0 0 , Mason 0 0-0 0, Couturiaux 2 1-1 5, Martin 0 0-0 0, Beish 0 0-2 0. TOTALS 11 7-15 30.

Clearfield – 76

Parker Collins 4 0-0 10, Evett Maines 8 1-1 20, Elijah Glunt 3 2-2 9, Braison Patrick 7 1-1 16, Tanner Kasken 3 1-2 7, Noah Rumfola 0 0-0 0, Easton Maines 0 0-0 0, Cooper Broad 1 3-4 6, Ethan Coudriet 0 0-0 0, Demitri Vitullo 1 0-0 3, Dominic Natoli 0 0-0 0, Nolan Livergood 1 1-2 3, Caleb Gibson 0 0-0 0, Avery Schneck 0 0-0 0, Zach Porter 0 0-0 0, Nico Natoli 0 0-0 0. TOTALS 29 9-12 76.

GAME STATISTICS
Philipsburg-Osceola/Clearfield

• Shooting: 11-37/29-54
• Rebounds: 19/32
• Fouls: 16/15
• Turnovers: 21/11
• Three-Point Shots: Meyers, DeSimone/Collins-2, Ev. Maines-3, Glunt, Patrick, Broad, Vitrullo

Clearfield Bison Basketball Scoreboard

DATE AND OPPONENT	SCORE	RECORD
12/2 HOLLIDAYSBURG	PPD.	0-0
12/4 HOLLIDAYSBURG	71-59	1-0
12/8 at Huntingdon	69-45	2-0
12/11 PHILIPSBURG-OSCEOLA	76-30	3-0
12/15 at Penns Valley
12/17 at Somerset (6:15 p.m.)
12/19 CHESTNUT RIDGE
12/22 BELLWOOD-ANTIS
12/29 at Curwensville (6 p.m.)
1/5 at Bald Eagle Area
1/8 at West Branch
1/12 at Central High
1/14 at Bellefonte
1/16 at Forest Hills
1/21 BISHOP GUILFOYLE
1/23 TYRONE
1/26 at Brookville (7:15 p.m.)
1/28 at Hollidaysburg
1/30 CENTRAL CAMBRIA
2/4 HUNTINGDON
2/5 at Philipsburg-Osceola
2/9 PENNS VALLEY
2/10 PUNXSUTAWNEY (7:15 p.m.)