HUNTINGDON — It has been a season of success for the Lady Bison, with milestones being captured and wins a plenty for the team that was following up a district title from campaign a year ago. With 11 wins already on the season, the potential clinching for a winning record was within reach, and Clearfield loaded up to take a ride to Huntingdon for a second game against the Lady Bearcats. After winning the first game 71-54 in the Bison Gym back in December, the girls were looking for a sweep on the opposing hardwood.
Clearfield hit the court with purpose, and finished the night not only victorious, but with a record broken. After hitting 1000 points last month, and still with a year of playing left, Sonny Diehl erased the 12-year hold on the most rebounds in a 72-58 victory.
Both teams were trying to get the better of one another in the opening quarter, neither really gaining momentum. Despite Clearfield settling for a 12-11 advantage after one, neither team seemed to be in a flow.
It all changed in the second as Clearfield relied on leadership and young stars to open things up. The Helsel sisters, Eve and Mia, took the team on their backs, and carried the way to a 32-25 advantage into the halftime break. Eve would score 11 points in the quarter, which ultimately fueled a run to a double-double, as she finished with a game-high 26 points along with 10 rebounds.
Mia would add in 14 points of her own in the victory.
But the star of the night ultimately was the team’s second 1000-point scorer as she would put on a clinic against Huntingdon on both sides of the court when it came to getting the ball off the glass.
Diehl would accomplish getting 15 rebounds, enough for another double-double to go with her 20 points, but she would also break a record that was originally set back in 2013 by Breanna Peters.
The junior forward now has 779 rebounds in her career, overtaking the previous record of Peters, who finished her career with the Lady Bison at 765 under former Lady Bison head coach, Joey Castagnolo. With one year of play left, and no sign of slowing down, Diehl could potentially put the rebound record at a point where no one could match it.
Clearfield continued their dominance in the second half, while Huntingdon continued to fall behind, especially when given the chance to get free points.
The Lady Bearcats went to the foul line 21 times in the game but only managed to put six shots in the basket, finishing less than 30 percent from the charity stripe. Kiayah Walters led the team with 21 points, with Reagan Orenshaw adding in 14 points, and Raelynn finishing with 12 points.
Clearfield (12-5) is back in the Bison Gym on Thursday night, as the Lady Mounties of Philipsburg-Osceola come in for the second meeting between the two rivals. The Lady Bison won the first contest, 41-18, in the P-O gym back on December 12. It is senior night for the team, as both cheerleaders and the three senior players will be honored before tip-off.
No junior varsity game will be played. Tip-off will be at 6:15 p.m.
SCORE BY QUARTER
Clearfield 12 20 15 25 – 72
Huntingdon 11 14 14 19 – 58
Clearfield – 72
Sonny Diehl 9 2-2 20, Eve Helsel 9 8-8 26, Alyssa Natoli 2 0-0 5, Mia Helsel 4 4-5 14, Myleigh Hudson 1 2-2 5, Riley Cummings 0 0-0 0, Elia Evilsizor 0 2-2 2. TOTALS 25 18-19 72.
Huntingdon – 58
Emmah Royer 1 0-5 2, Reagan Orenshaw 5 1-4 12, Kiayah Walters 8 2-4 21, Raelynn Fisher 5 2-6 12, Izadore Kazmarski 1 0-0 2, Audree Brode 1 0-0 2, Paige Stubbs 2 1-2 7. TOTALS 23 6-21 58.
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.) | 42-77 | 9-3 |
| 1/19 at Bishop Guilfoyle | 34-62 | 9-4 |
| 1/22 at Tyrone | 69-48 | 10-4 |
| 1/24 at Somerset (5 p.m.) | PPD. | 10-4 |
| 1/29 DUBOIS CATHOLIC | 67-36 | 11-4 |
| 1/30 CENTRAL CAMBRIA (6 p.m.) | 61-78 | 11-5 |
| 2/2 at Huntingdon | 72-58 | 12-5 |
| 2/5 PHILIPSBURG-OSCEOLA (6:15 p.m.) | Â | Â |
| 2/6 HOLLIDAYSBURG | Â | Â |
| 2/9 at Penns Valley | Â | Â |
| 2/10 at Punxsutawney (7:15 p.m.) | Â | Â |
| 2/14 at Somerset (1:15 p.m.) | Â | Â |
