HYDE — After a strong finish to the regular season, the start of a playoff run for the Clearfield Bison basketball squad meant first making a run at something that has eluded them since changing leagues. Thursday night, with a Red Out inside the Bison Gymnasium, the squad took to the hardwood in a quest to gain a Laurel Highlands Athletic Conference championship. That quest began with a semi-final matchup against the team that gave Clearfield its first loss this season, the Forest Hills Rangers.
At the end of the night, on paper, Clearfield in one way was the better team. They made more shots, had more possessions, and more opportunities. The trouble the Bison had was the shots they missed were giving the Rangers opportunities. Clearfield also had trouble handling the ball, and it led to timely shots, and in the end, those opportunities were the difference as the Bison fell, 69-62, for the third loss of the season.
“We battled all night long, and we kept getting chances,” Bison head coach Nate Glunt said after exiting the locker room. “I just told the guys that we were outplaying them on many occasions. They just made more shots when they needed to.
“Forest Hills is a well-coached team. They’re big, they’re quick, and they execute.”
That execution came early in the game as they were able to get out to a quick lead in the opening eight minutes. Clearfield was getting looks like they had all year, but the ball was not getting in the rim as it had been earlier in the week. Clearfield would find itself down by 11 after one quarter of play, but they were still pushing themselves to make a second quarter stand.
Clearfield not only did that, but they put the Rangers in a spot they were not familiar with the first time these two teams played.
The second quarter saw Clearfield suddenly get hot, as Evett Maines would find his deep opportunities at the baseline and wing. Elijah Glunt began getting looks as well, and defensively Clearfield was able to put a bit of pressure on the Ranger offense.
Glunt would be the highlight as he found an opening after a pass from Braison Patrick on the left side of the key, draining a three as the seconds ticked off. That shot would prove to be enormous, as the 20-9 score at the end of one quarter was suddenly all knotted up at 29 points.
Coach Glunt was pleased with the play of his scorers, but made it an emphasis that those opportunities to score were coming because of his players looking for the right shot, and making the right pass.
“Guys like Elijah and Parker (Collins) played excellent in being able to get the ball to the right player at the right spot. Elijah had eight assists, and Parker was huge in moving the ball in the paint,” Coach Glunt said. “That’s what they were exceptional at tonight.”
Clearfield quickly got the lead in the third on a quick jump shot by Tanner Kaskan. Unfortunately, shortly after, Easton Grambling got the lead back for the Rangers on a three coming at the top of the key. That shot would be the final lead change as Clearfield would battle from behind the remainder of the night, but in doing so consistently kept the game within two possessions, even down to one possession.
The Bison would make more shots than Forest Hills, 23-21, and had just a few more rebounds. What cost them was turnovers, as the Rangers forced 15 compared to Clearfield forcing seven. As the fourth quarter waned, Clearfield continued to play tight, getting down to a single possession. The trouble that came was many of the rotation had to force the issue on defense to the point that fouls were becoming a common theme. Both teams had one of the starters reach five fouls in the final eight minutes, but it was Forest Hills capitalizing the most, whether it be two opportunities at the foul line or a follow-up to a made basket.
Clearfield only went to the line six times, four coming in the final quarter. By comparison, the Rangers in the final quarter alone were at the line 17 times and made 11 of those shots.
Forest Hills outscored Clearfield 40-33 in the second half, led by Dylan Stohon who had a team-high 22 points. Brandon Gregovich added in 17 points, part of his double-double as he pulled in 12 rebounds, and Koy McGough added in another 12 points.
Clearfield had only two make double figures, with Evett Maines leading all scoring with 28 points, while Collins added in another 11.
Even with the loss, Clearfield (20-3) is still postseason bound, but will have some time before they will step on the court for true competition. The nice thing in Glunt’s eyes, is he is able to keep his team fresh by allowing them to hit the court next week for some scrimmages, giving them a game feel long before they take to the court for the district championship.
“I’m fortunate to have a lot of friends who have teams that want to play us. We have three scrimmages slated for next week, so we are going to get a lot of work in, not to mention we’re going to get some good food after those scrimmages,” Glunt said with a chuckle. “We’re going to be ready.”
It will be Tuesday, February 24, when the Bison will be back on the court for a game. Clearfield is bound to the District IX Championship in Class 4A, as they will take on long-time rival St. Marys. Time and location will be announced in the coming days.
SCORE BY QUARTER
Forest Hills 20 9 18 22 – 69
Clearfield 9 20 10 23 – 62
Forest Hills – 69
Josh Myers 1 0-0 3, Koy McGough 3 4-5 12, Dylan Stohon 7 7-10 22, Colson Torkarsky 0 0-0 0, Easton Grambling 3 0-0 9, Nathan Gabany 0 2-2 2, Xander Richardson 2 0-0 5, Kevin Edmondson 0 0-0 0, Brandon Gregovich 5 6-11 17. TOTALS 21 19-28 69.
Clearfield – 62
Parker Collins 4 0-0 11, Evett Maines 10 3-4 28, Elijah Glunt 3 0-0 8, Braison Patrick 2 2-2 6, Tanner Kaskan 3 0-0 6, Cooper Broad 0 0-0 0, Easton Maines 1 0-0 3, Noah Rumfola 0 0-0 0. TOTALS 23 5-6 62.
GAME STATISTICS
Forest Hills/Clearfield
- Shooting: 21-59/23-51
- Rebounds: 26/30
- Fouls: 19/21
- Turnovers: 7/15
- Three-Point Shots: Myers, McGough-2, Grambling-3, Richardson/Collins-3, Ev. Maines-7, Glunt-2, Ea. Maines
- Foul Out: Richardson/Kaskan
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 | 9-0 |
| 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 | 82-65 | 14-1 |
| 1/26 at Brookville (7:15 p.m.) | PPD. | 14-1 |
| 1/28 at Hollidaysburg | 53-55 | 14-2 |
| 1/30 CENTRAL CAMBRIA | 78-38 | 15-2 |
| 1/31 at Brookville | 62-56 | 16-2 |
| 2/4 HUNTINGDON | 63-54 | 17-2 |
| 2/5 at Philipsburg-Osceola | 65-36 | 18-2 |
| 2/9 PENNS VALLEY | 75-61 | 19-2 |
| 2/10 PUNXSUTAWNEY (7:15 p.m.) | 72-51 | 20-2 |
| 2/12 FOREST HILLS (6 p.m.) Laurel Highlands Athletic Conference semi-final | 62-69 | 20-3 |
| 2/24 vs. St. Marys (7:30 p.m. in Dubois District IX Class 4A Championship |
