HYDE — The last time the Clearfield Bison stepped foot into their own locker room was during the holiday break at the end of 2025. It was December 30, an afternoon showdown with Chestnut Ridge, when they heard their pre-game music, put on the white uniform, and heard athletic director Bob Gearhart announce the starting lineup with the spotlight shining down. Five consecutive road games followed; a road trip that ended with the first loss on the season. Still, the fact the team was back inside the Bison Gymnasium was a way to put the loss behind them, but also made them realize a big contest awaited, as the Bishop Guilfoyle Marauders came in ready to battle.
In one quarter, it appeared it would go one way, then suddenly it changed, and felt out of hand. Clearfield looked at a big deficit, nearly defeated. Yet, all it took was one player to get hot, and the fire spread. Clearfield was down by five possessions at one point, and somehow found a way, fueled by senior leadership and strong defense, to achieve a massive 53-48 victory to get back on track.
“To get this win, after being down 14 points, these kids deserve so much credit. They never quit,” Bison head coach Nate Glunt said afterwards. “Our defensive effort in the second half, we just never let up. Bishop Guilfoyle is so good, so skilled, well-coached and move the ball well; to be able to maintain that defensive intensity in the fourth quarter was absolutely huge.”
Glunt watched his team come back early in the first, as Braison Patrick fueled an early rally with seven of the team’s 13 points in the first eight minutes, but the Marauders were only down by two at that point. The team came out firing in the second quarter, going on a 12-2 run, as Clearfield went flat. The Bison ultimately managed just five points in the quarter, and the two-point lead suddenly became a 12-point deficit.
In the third quarter, Bishop Guilfoyle got a pair of three’s by Jake Kissell and Alex Kimmel, while Clearfield could only answer with a pair of buckets. At one point, a 14-point lead seemed insurmountable.
Enter Parker Collins.
No player got hotter in the third quarter than the senior guard. After a pair of buckets by Tanner Kaskan, Collins would hit a pair of buckets to turn things around. He would ultimately account for 12 of the team’s 21 points in the third quarter, coming to life on offense while also managing to get a few key rebounds to fuel the remainder of the team. The Marauders tried to hold on, but clearly felt the momentum shift. The 14-point edge suddenly was down to just five when the third quarter buzzer sounded.
“In basketball, it’s just contagious. Parker played fantastic, and that gave others a lot more confidence,” Glunt said. “We were then able to get some stops, get out in transition, and then you saw Tanner Kaskan have a few tip-outs, rebounds. In order to beat Bishop Guilfoyle, it has to be a total team effort.”
Clearfield continued that momentum in the fourth, as Evett Maines put up an early jumper, followed by Collins with a pair of baskets early on to force the Marauders to call a timeout less than a minute into the final stanza.
Collins would keep battling hard, finishing with 16 points and seven rebounds. It was the Bison defense that made things tough for the Marauders in the second half, but also made them almost silent in the fourth.
Bishop Guilfoyle struggled to find the basket for 16 minutes, finishing 7-for-29 in the second half with the pressure of the Bison defense. But, they were not going away quietly as they pulled the game to within reach in the final minutes. Tanner Kaskan, who finished with a team-high 10 rebounds, then made a major play on the opposite end when Taurean Consiglio found himself at the baseline near the bench for a three-point attempt. Kaskan got away from the guarding man, just as the ball was released, and got just enough of a hand on the ball to block and see the shot sail short, and out of bounds.
That was just enough for Clearfield to keep the pressure going, and at that point it was all about silencing the opposition.
Clearfield saw both Maines and Patrick put up huge shots from deep range, and then on the opposite end force some turnovers and tough shots, to end possessions and force the Marauders to play trap plays to put Clearfield at the line. Patrick would finish with a game-high 21 points, as he was the one forced to the free throw line late in the going to try and seal the game. He would only go 1-for-2 at the line, but on the opposite end of the court as the Marauders tried for a quick shot, the rebound by Kaskan saw another foul come in with just over 20 seconds left, and in a three-point game, the charity stripe would be what again the Bison needed to lock things down.
After missing the first shot, Kaskan put the second one in and as the Marauders tried to make a play late with a heave just beyond half court, the buzzer went off and the Bison sideline erupted with jubilation.
In the final quarter, the Marauders were held to only four points, with two coming from the foul line, and shot just 1-for-17 on the floor.
“Forest Hills was the end of our road trip, after not being at home since December 30, and our kids did battle hard down there. Then, yesterday, due to the early dismissal, we couldn’t play, nor practice,” Glunt said. “We just had to come in today and play, so I challenged them in the locker room. I thought we prepared the right way, and these kids were excited to play this game. They came out, and executed.
“It’s a big win in the conference, especially since Bishop Guilfoyle is so good. We get to come back tomorrow, and at least then as well we can play at home. Hope these kids sleep some tonight, because we don’t want to come back out tomorrow and start flat-footed against a strong team.”
The Bison did drop the junior varsity contest, 74-34.
There is no rest for the wicked because Clearfield (13-1) will be back on the hardwood in the Bison Gym on Friday when they host Tyrone. Jayvees will hit the court first at 6 p.m. with the varsity to follow.
SCORE BY QUARTERS
Bishop Guilfoyle 11 17 16 4 – 48
Clearfield 13 5 21 14 – 53
Bishop Guilfoyle – 48
Taurean Consiglio 4 0-0 9, Troy Ruggery 4 3-6 11, Alex Kimmel 5 1-2 13, Jake Kissell 1 1-2 4, Grant Okonak 3 0-0 6, Connor Okonak 2 0-0 5, Tyler Lightner 0 0-0 0. TOTALS 19 5-10 48.
Clearfield – 53
Parker Collins 7 0-0 16, Evett Maines 2 0-0 5, Braison Patrick 8 2-5 21, Elijah Glunt 1 0-0 2, Tanner Kaskan 1 1-2 5, Noah Rumfola 1 0-0 2, Easton Maines 0 0-0 0, Cooper Broad 1 0-0 2. TOTALS 22 3-7 53.
GAME STATISTICS
Bishop Guilfoyle/Clearfield
- Shooting: 19-58/22-46
- Rebounds: 27/31
- Fouls: 12/15
- Turnovers: 12/12
- Three-Point Shots: Consiglio, Kimmel-2, Kissell, C. Okonak/Collins-2, Ev. Maines, Patrick-3
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 | 87-40 | 8-0 |
| 1/5 at Bald Eagle Area | 69-43 | 9-0Â |
| 1/8 at West Branch | 81-42 | 10-0 |
| 1/12 at Central | 56-44 | 11-0 |
| 1/14 at Bellefonte | 73-52 | 12-0 |
| 1/16 at Forest Hills | 44-72 | 12-1 |
| 1/21 BISHOP GUILFOYLE | PPD. | 12-1 |
| 1/22 BISHOP GUILFOYLE | 53-48 | 13-1 |
| 1/23 TYRONE | Â | Â |
| 1/26 at Brookville (7:15 p.m.) | Â | Â |
| 1/28 at Hollidaysburg | Â | Â |
| 1/30 CENTRAL CAMBRIA | Â | Â |
| 2/4 HUNTINGDON | Â | Â |
| 2/5 at Philipsburg-Osceola | Â | Â |
| 2/9 PENNS VALLEY | Â | Â |
| 2/10 PUNXSUTAWNEY (7:15 p.m.) | Â | Â |
