Second Quarter Launches Bison Cagers Past Golden Tide

CURWENSVILLE — Just because school is not in session for the remainder of 2025 does not mean that the hardwood is staying cold. The chill was in the air, along with some gusting wind and blowing snow, as Patton Hall was filled to the walls on Monday night. The Curwensville Golden Tide were ready for action, but they looked across the court at an undefeated Clearfield Bison squad that came in ready for battle.

It was clear who was pulling no punches on this night. An early 2-2 score quickly got out of hand, as the Bison cagers forced turnovers, penetrated the paint, and roared out to a lead that stood the entire night. The 56-31 final was not indicative of how dominant the Bison were, as they pushed their record to a perfect 7-0.

“These kids are always excited to play Curwensville. It’s a big game for them, and records really don’t matter,” Bison coach Nate Glunt said afterwards. “They were excited to play, and also nervous, as they were missing some shots. Our defense kept us in the game, and we got comfortable. We then started opening it up and pushed to the win.”

Clearfield’s first quarter started out slowly, as the Tide kept them in check for an early 2-2 contest. Curwensville’s lone points to open the night came from a pair of free throws by Louie Tkacik, which ultimately were the lone points for the Tide in the first quarter. The Bison rattled off a 12-0 run to finish the quarter, with balanced scoring from the squad as four players accounted for the points.

It wasn’t until the second quarter when Curwensville saw the levy burst open in a major way.

The Tide were struggling to maintain control of the ball through eight minutes, giving up 11 turnovers in the opening stanza. Things did not improve in the second, as another eight turnovers against the Bison defense took what was a 12-0 run to finish the first quarter and become a 22-0 run by the 6:36 mark in the second.

“That is a high-caliber team, and a testimony to those players who have given in to buy into that program, and to what Nate has done with the program,” Curwensville head coach Josh Tkacik said after speaking with his team. “His guys are well trained, have a great system, and execute that system.”

The Tide had plenty of opportunities in the first half to get shots at the bucket, including some deep in the paint by Louie Tkacik and Breck Finn. But, the shots were not falling despite the looks. Curwensville finished the first half just 2-for-17 from the floor.

“I never question this team’s effort, because it shows. But, at the end of the day, effort doesn’t directly put points on the board. Execution is what does; effort gives the chance, but you have to execute as well,” Tkacik said.

By contrast, Clearfield’s second quarter was summed up simply by dominating every aspect when the opportunity was presented. Led by a 10-point run by both Evett Maines and Braison Patrick, the Bison drained 33 points to take a 47-11 lead into the locker room, ensuring a running clock in the second half. Maines finished the night with 20 points, the most of all players, along with six rebounds and three steals. Patrick would add in a pair of steals on the night to go with his 14 points and five rebounds. In the first half, of the 19 turnovers Clearfield forced on the Tide, 11 of them resulted in steals.

Although the game was well in hand for Clearfield, Glunt watched his team continue to battle into the third quarter, seeing what the rivalry with the neighboring school meant to this team.

“The leadership from the seniors was shown tonight with how they played, and what it means to them to play Curwensville,” Glunt said. “As sophomores, those kids came here with an 0-7 record, and we came that night ready to play and got the win.”

With the clock running once the second half started, Clearfield’s starters played for only part of the third quarter before allowing the underclassmen get more playing time. Despite that, the defense kept Curwensville off the scoreboard, as the Tide went 0-for-6.

Curwensville’s offense began finding the basket in the fourth quarter, returning the favor and not letting Clearfield get on the board. The Tide drained 20 points in the fourth, led by Breck Finn with eight in the final quarter, to set the final. Finn would go on to lead Curwensville in scoring, accounting for 11 points. Owen Dimmick led the charge on the boards, pulling down seven on the night, plus led with four assists.

After the final buzzer went off, both coaches had a chance to reflect on what the first month of the season has been, with each having different perspectives.

“Everybody wants to win, no matter who you’re playing. The thing I try to be mindful of, as a coach, is if we are improving. Whether I see improvement individually, or collectively as a group, and tonight is a tough read on both,” Tkacik said. “When you’re evaluating us from a week and a half ago against Harmony to tonight, it’s two totally different teams.

“Has it been a frustrating December, for sure, but one thing I have not questioned about our guys is the effort that they put in each night. They play their guts out, no matter the outcome.”

By contrast, Glunt is seeing a month where his team has become a cohesive unit rather quickly, with no player trying to outshine the other.

“Like I said, it’s a credit to the seniors and their leadership through adversity. They entered this game a couple years ago at 0-7. This year, it’s a different story; they’ve gone through those challenges to get them where they are now. Plus, you look at the underclassmen, they have played a ton of basketball to prepare them for these situations,” he said. “You put that group together, and they have done a fantastic job, playing unselfish, wanting the best play to happen for each other.”

Curwensville (1-7) will have a week before they are back on the court in Patton Hall as they will host West Branch on Monday, January 5. Junior varsity tips at 6 p.m. with the varsity to follow.

The Bison will not have to wait as long, as they are right back in action Tuesday as they will host Chestnut Ridge in the Bison Gymnasium, a game that was originally to take place on December 19. It’s an early tip-off between the Bison and the Lions, with varsity action happening at 3 p.m.

SCORE BY QUARTER

Clearfield 14 33 9 0 – 56
Curwensville 2 9 0 20 – 31

Clearfield – 56

Parker Collins 2 0-0 4, Evett Maines 9 1-1 20, Elijah Glunt 2 1-2 6, Braison Patrick 6 0-0 14, Tanner Kaskan 1 0-2 2, Noah Rumfola 0 0-0 0, Easton Maines 2 0-0 6, Cooper Broad 1 0-0 2, JT Strishock 1 0-3 2, Ethan Coudriet 0 0-0 0, Demitri Vitrullo 0 0-0 0, Nolan Livergood 0 0-0 0, 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 24 2-8 56.

Curwensville – 31

Owen Dimmick 1 4-4 6, Evan McCartney 2 0-0 5, Breck Finn 4 0-0 11, Louie Tkacik 1 3-5 6, Dante Lezzer 1 0-0 3, Colby Proud 0 0-0 0. TOTALS 9 7-9 56.

GAME STATISTICS
Clearfield/Curwensville

• Shooting: 24-63/9-33
• Rebounds: 34/26
• Fouls: 11/9
• Turnovers: 13/27
• Three-Point Shots: Ev. Maines, Glunt, Patrick-2, Ea. Maines-2/McCartney, Finn-3, Tkacik, Lezzer

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	61-45	4-0
12/17 at Somerset (6:15 p.m.)	71-39	5-0
12/19 CHESTNUT RIDGE	PPD.	5-0
12/22 BELLWOOD-ANTIS	64-60	6-0
12/29 at Curwensville (6 p.m.)	56-31	7-0
12/30 CHESTNUT RIDGE
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.)

GOLDEN TIDE SCOREBOARD:

Date	Opponent	Score	Record
11/28	@ C-K Tournament
11/28	vs. Bucktail	34 – 56	0 – 1
11/29	@ C-K Tournament
11.29	vs. Portage	36 – 53	0 – 2
12/4	@ Union Tournament
12/4	vs. Union	40 – 48	0 – 3
12/5	@ Union Tournament
12/5	vs. Karns City	29 – 67	0 – 4
12/9	@ Williamsburg	35 – 54	0 – 5
12/12	TUSSEY MOUNTAIN	30 – 26	1 – 5
12/15	@ Purchase Line	ppd.	1 – 5
12/17	HARMONY	44 – 67	1 – 6
12/19	JUNIATA VALLEY	PPD.	1 – 6
12/23	GLENDALE	PPD.	1 – 6
12/29	CLEARFIELD	31 – 56	1 – 7
1/5	WEST BRANCH
1/9	@ Mo Valley
1/13	WILLIAMSBURG
1/19	@ Juniata Valley
1/23	@ Glendale
1/27	@ North Star
1/30	MO VALLEY
2/2	@ West Branch
2/9	@ DuBois Central Catholic
2/12	@ Harmony