CLARION — A cold winter’s night with a gusty wind was what many folks were experiencing all day on Thursday, but the Clearfield Bison basketball squad gave many a chance to warm up in their own way. The long ride to Clarion University meant competition inside the Waldo S. Tippin Gymnasium, and an opportunity to write another chapter in the Bison basketball novel.
The District IX championship was on the line, and as bad as Clearfield wanted their sixth consecutive, the Bradford Owls were just as determined to prevent it from happening. Both squads were evenly matched, but the opportunities fell when needed to the Bison, who capitalized on turnovers and clutch open shots to pull out a 51-40 victory.
When the final whistle sounded, Bison Head Coach Nate Glunt, his assistants, the cheerleading squad and all the fans that made the drive got to see a trophy handed over to a squad that gave Glunt his 100th win as a coach earlier this season, saw one of their own eclipse 1000 points, and deliver an unprecedented sixth title in as many years.
Early on, neither team had much momentum, as if they were trying to figure out what the other squad was doing. The Bison kept their man-on-man defense, while the Owls put full-court pressure on until they crossed mid-court to go into zone.
Clearfield made some adjustments to get their 1000-point scorer, Cade Walker, more opportunities, and it paid off as Walker finished the night with a game-high 16 points, coupled with six boards and a pair of blocks.
“Give him credit, since he’s seen that double or triple-coverage all season. In the second half, we made a couple adjustments, got him in some space, and it was as though he was free and got open looks,” Glunt said.
After one quarter, Clearfield held a slight 12-8 advantage, with Bradford keeping it close, contesting a lot of outside shots. The second quarter was much of the same, as both squads each added in eight points. But a clutch three-point shot from Kandyn Hudson got the Clearfield bench energized, and despite some close opportunities both at the end of the first quarter, and entering halftime, Glunt could see his team was feeling the momentum, especially with getting the ball to start the third quarter.
That quarter was the one that put Clearfield out in front for good, as they came out hammering hard, despite the physical play of the Owls, who switched to a half-court press to gain an advantage on the boards. That led to a lot of disruption in shots, and also some controversial no-calls from the officials.
Glunt knew his team had to key on Tyler Gigliotti, who finished the night with 10 points, team-high for the Owls, but was held to only 3-for-13 from the floor.
“He’s that school’s all-time leading scorer, and he’s a really nice kid, too,” Glunt said. “It’s a credit to our kids that focused on him, because we had to. Coach (Brian) Hobbs is a great coach; they executed really well in the first half against our defense.
“We switched things up in the second half to kind of contest that, and we executed it enough that it helped us win the game.”
Clearfield held the lead through most of the game, but despite a four-possession lead heading into the final quarter, Bradford closed that gap with just under five minutes remaining in the game, thanks to a 9-2 run to pull within six. Knowing the opportunities were going to be less and less, Clearfield pushed hard to find a moment to put the Owls down for good, and it came thanks to Cole Miller.
With the ball at the top of the key, he played it close against the Owl defense, but then stepped back for a deep three, and found nothing but the net, a dagger shot that gave Clearfield a 42-30 advantage and put the Owls in a tight spot.
Bradford had to force Clearfield to the line, and when the chance at free points came, the Bison took it. In the final quarter, Clearfield was at the free throw line 10 times, missing only two. A pair by Walker and another pair late by Karson Rumsky, who led the Bison with 11 rebounds, plus another two by Andrew Lopez, clinched the title for the Bison. With under a minute left, the reserves all came in for Clearfield as the starting five came off the court to an ovation knowing they had another title in the bag.
After all the pictures were taken, Glunt noted that he may be the coach, but it was the team and everyone in the Clearfield community that made this season special.
“I told the kids midway through the season that I never made a shot, I’ve never boxed out, and I’ve never made an assist. It was the kids that do it all,” he said. “I am very fortunate to be part of a school district that really cares about these kids, from the cafeteria workers who make sandwiches for us before every game, including the special hoagie for today, to the custodians who clean the floor for us twice a day, the administration, and the teachers.
“I’m just very fortunate to be a part of it.”
Clearfield (15-8) continues on into the PIAA bracket for 4A, with their opening contest yet to be announced.
SCORE BY QUARTER
Bradford 8 8 7 17 – 40
Clearfield 12 8 14 17 – 51
Bradford – 40
Manion 4 0-0 8, Ni. Gleason 0 0-0 0, Knowlton 1 0-0 3, Dixon 0 0-0 0, Gigliotti 3 3-4 10, O. Kane 1 0-0 2, Na. Gleason 0 0-0 0, A. Kane 0 0-0 0, Schmidt 4 0-0 8, Piscitetti 2 0-0 4, Austin 0 0-0 0, Liners 0 0-0 0, Nuzzo 1 3-6 5. TOTALS 16 6-10 40.
Clearfield – 51
Pallo 0 1-2 1, Walker 7 2-3 16, Rumsky 1 4-6 7, Lopez 2 4-4 8, Peacock 1 0-0 2, Winters 2 0-0 5, Miller 3 0-0 9, Ryan 0 0-0 0, Hudson 1 0-0 3, Gearhart 0 0-0 0, Billotte 0 0-0 0, Parkett 0 0-0 0, Thompson 0 0-0 0, Way 0 0-0 0, Greslick 0 0-0 0, O’Dell 0 0-0 0. TOTALS 17 11-15 51.
GAME STATISTICS
Bradford/Clearfield
Shooting: 16-50/17-45
Rebounds: 26/27
Fouls: 18/11
Turnovers: 15/10
Three-Point Shots: Knowlton, Gigliotti/Rumsky, Winters, Miller-3, Hudson
Foul Out: Knowlton, Schmidt
Bison Scoreboard:
Date | Opponent | Score | Record |
12/06 | @ Curwensville | 82 – 31 | 1 – 0 |
12/10 | @ Bald Eagle Area | 56 – 38 | 2 – 0 |
12/13 | @ Huntingdon | 48 – 67 | 2 – 1 |
12/16 | @ Punxsutawney | ppd. | 2 – 1 |
12/18 | PHILIPSBURG-OSCEOLA | 55 – 32 | 3 – 1 |
12/20 | @ Tyrone | 60 – 90 | 3 – 2 |
12/27 | @ Purchase Line Christmas Tourney | ||
12/27 | vs. Purchase Line | 63 – 54 | 4 – 2 |
12/28 | vs. Ligonier Valley | 63 – 69 | 4 – 3 |
01/03 | OTTO-ELDRED | 65 – 40 | 5 – 3 |
01/07 | PENNS VALLEY | 50 – 38 | 6 – 3 |
01/10 | @ Central | 43 – 51 ot | 6 – 4 |
01/15 | BELLEFONTE | 58 – 51 | 7 – 4 |
01/17 | BALD EAGLE AREA | 59 – 42 | 8 – 4 |
01/20 | DUBOIS | 58 – 70 | 8 – 5 |
01/21 | HUNTINGDON | 56 – 72 | 8 – 6 |
01/24 | @ Philipsburg-Osceola | 49 – 45 ot | 9 – 6 |
01/29 | TYRONE | 49 – 67 | 9 – 7 |
01/31 | @ Penns Valley | 29 – 38 | 9 – 8 |
02/03 | @ West Branch | 63 – 37 | 10 – 8 |
02/04 | CENTRAL | 52 – 47 | 11 – 8 |
02/07 | @ Bellefonte | ppd. | 11 – 8 |
02/08 | @ Bellefonte | 59 – 57 | 12 – 8 |
02/10 | @ Punxsutawney | 66 – 35 | 13 – 8 |
02/13 | CURWENSVILLE | 80 – 17 | 14 – 8 |
02/27 | District 9 Playoffs | ||
02/27 | vs. Bradford @ Clarion | 51 – 40 | 15 – 8 |
TBD | PIAA AAAA Playoffs |