HYDE — Every win this year has a story for the Clearfield Lady Bison, with many coming by a strong margin, or by grit and desire like on Monday night. Fueled by that victory, and on a streak, Clearfield welcomed Bellefonte into the home gym on Wednesday night for their fourth consecutive game on the home hardwood. In doing so, anticipation was high that one of their star players would hit a milestone that a teammate had reached just a month earlier.
As Sonny Diehl reached closer to 1000 points, she and her teammates were in total control. The junior would watch her supporting cast feed the ball to her, and she returned the favor. Diehl would hit the milestone before halftime, etching herself as one of the greats in the Missy Helsel era for Clearfield, and got to enjoy a dominant victory alongside her supporting roster. The Lady Bison cruised to a 60-18 victory, their fourth in a row, to close out the first half of their season.
“They all had a lot of opportunities to shoot, and everyone was really scrappy on the boards, especially in the first half,” Helsel said afterwards. “We knew what kind of game this was going to be with Bellefonte coming in, and how they’ve struggled this year. I give a lot of credit to them, despite their tough season, and their coaching staff.”
Diehl did not waste much time in getting her first points on the board, as she got the opening bucket, and it was becoming clear the goal was to both get her to 1000 points early, while still getting everyone involved.
It became a quest to feed Diehl the ball, while she also did not want to be the sole focus. Clearfield rolled out to a 21-0 lead as Diehl, Mia Helsel, and Eve Helsel all contributed points. Bellefonte would not get their first bucket until just over two minutes remained in the quarter, as the first eight minutes closed with Clearfield ahead by 23, with 14 of those points coming from Diehl.
She would quickly get a pair of free throws, and a pair of buckets in the paint, putting her two points away from reaching the moment.
A foul by Gigi Jasseh with just over two minutes left in the half put Diehl at the line. The first shot saw nothing but net, and her teammates surrounded her to give words of encouragement, along with telling her she just needed to do what she knew. The second shot, up, and in the net, allowing the crowd to erupt as the Lady Bison now had two 1000-point scorers in one season, just a month apart. Senior Mia Helsel reached that point in December.
“There were a lot of nerves coming in. I knew the moment would happen, whether first quarter, second, third or fourth,” Diehl said afterwards. “I’ve been playing basketball with Mia, Eve, and Missy, since St. Francis. Growing up with them, we knew that this moment would happen for us. Maybe not so close, but we knew it would. And, Eve is going to be next to 1000 as well.”
After the congratulations concluded, and the ball she used to reach the mark was tossed to her mother, Sue, in the crowd, the game got back under way, and by that point, Clearfield had the game well in hand. At halftime, the Lady Bison had a 43-10 advantage, and ensuring a fast 16 minutes will conclude the night.
Diehl would finish the night with a game-high 27 points, and fell just short of a near triple-double, as she added seven rebounds and eight steals. It was Eve Helsel that would finish with a double-double, as she finished with 14 points and 10 rebounds.
Afterwards, once the realization set in that she had two players hit 1000 points in a season, Missy got to take in the moment.
“It’s special. I have coached these girls literally all their lives growing up. It’s something that is pretty special, and to do it at home with so many here to witness it, just makes it incredible,” she said.
Clearfield’s main rotation got a lot of rest in the second half, as the running clock allowed many of the younger players that normally do not get a lot of playing time in varsity games.
At the end of the night, with players, friends, family and coaches all clamoring for a chance to have a picture, Diehl could feel the pressure lifted off her shoulders once she reached her goal. But, she also explained that the team seemed to be having more fun this year than ever, even with the success of a year ago.
“Basketball is a fun sport, especially when surrounded by a great group of girls,” she said. “Even at practice, we have so much fun together. With me playing volleyball as well.
“Less stressful is volleyball, but I really enjoy playing basketball. I truly feel it’s my sport.”
The time for the Lady Bison (9-2) at home has concluded for the time being, as after their four-game run in the Bison Gym, they now are on the road for the next four contests. The first coming on Friday night when they make a trip to Forest Hills.
No junior varsity game will happen, as it is a double-header on the court as both the girls and the guys will play. The Lady Bison will be the first game, tipping off at 6 p.m.
SCORE BY QUARTER
Bellefonte 2 8 0 8 – 18
Clearfield 25 18 9 8 – 60
Bellefonte – 18
Talia Cotter 6 0-0 12, Gigi Jasseh 1 0-0 2, Anika Fetzer 1 0-0 2, Hannah Sampsel 1 0-0 2, Aubrey Mason 0 0-0 0, Larson 0 0-0 0, Roan 0 0-0 0. TOTALS 9 0-0 18.
Clearfield – 60
Sonny Diehl 10 6-6 27, Eve Helsel 7 0-0 14, Alyssa Natoli 0 0-2 0, Rilee Thompson 0 0-0 0, Mia Helsel 2 0-0 5, Myleigh Hudson 2 1-1 5, Riley Cummings 1 0-0 2, Myra Ramkawksy 0 0-0 0, Charlie Spingola 1 0-0 3, Sidney Norris 0 0-0 0, Aliza Miller 0 0-0 0, Elia Evilsizor 2 0-0 4. TOTALS 25 7-9 60.
GAME STATISTICS
Bellefonte/Clearfield
- Shooting: 9-29/25-65
- Rebounds: 22/32
- Fouls: 9/1
- Turnovers: 31/18
- Three-Point Shots: Diehl, M. Helsel, Spingola
Clearfield Lady Bison Scoreboard
| DATE AND OPPONENT | SCORE | RECORD |
| 12/3 at Hollidaysburg | 37-58 | 0-1 |
| 12/6 vs. St. Mary’s (Brockway Tip-Off Tournament) | 59-47 | 1-1 |
| 12/6 vs. Brockway (Brockway Tip-Off Tournament) | 79-34 | 2-1 |
| 12/10 HUNTINGDON | 71-54 | 3-1 |
| 12/12 at Philipsburg-Osceola (6:15 p.m.) | 41-18 | 4-1 |
| 12/17 PENNS VALLEY | 65-57 | 5-1 |
| 12/19 CHESTNUT RIDGE (6 p.m.) | PPD. | 5-1 |
| 12/22 at Bellwood-Antis | 51-73 | 5-2 |
| 1/5 CHESTNUT RIDGE (5 p.m.) | 64-38 | 6-2 |
| 1/7 BALD EAGLE AREA (6:30 p.m.) | 51-12 | 7-2 |
| 1/12 CENTRAL HIGH | 68-65 | 8-2 |
| 1/14 BELLEFONTE (6:30 p.m.) | 60-18 | 9-2Â |
| 1/16 at Forest Hills (6 p.m.) | Â | Â |
| 1/19 at Bishop Guilfoyle | Â | Â |
| 1/22 at Tyrone | Â | Â |
| 1/24 at Somerset (5 p.m.) | Â | Â |
| 1/29 DUBOIS CATHOLIC | Â | Â |
| 1/30 CENTRAL CAMBRIA (6 p.m.) | Â | Â |
| 2/2 at Huntingdon | Â | Â |
| 2/5 PHILIPSBURG-OSCEOLA (6:15 p.m.) | Â | Â |
| 2/9 at Penns Valley | Â | Â |
| 2/10 at Punxsutawney (7:15 p.m.) | Â | Â |
