Junior High Boys Basketball B-Team Moves Record To 11-0 With Two Recent Wins (03/01/15)
The Clarion Junior High Boys B-Team continued their unbeaten streak, moving to 11-0 with victories, on Thursday and Friday.
Coach Jason Craig shares this article on the games:
UNION GAME: THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 26TH
Clarion’s Jr. High B-Team kept rolling with a 26 – 17 win at Union On Thursday. The win moves the young Bobcats to 10 – 0 on the season.
The game got off to a slow start with Clarion winning the opening quarter 4 – 0. Josh Craig and Nick Frederick each had baskets. Nate Datko, Skylar Rhoades, Frederick and Craig all scored in the second quarter as the Bobcats went into the half with a 12 – 4 lead.
Each team came out in the third quarter and scored 7 points. Greg Kalinowski and Datko each had baskets and Craig drained a shot from beyond the arc. Clarion entered the fourth quarter leading 19 – 11. The final quarter saw Craig keep the hot hand, scoring 6 points while Ben Murtha added a free throw. Clarion would win the quarter 7 – 6 and the game 26 – 17.
Craig had a game high 13 points while Datko and Frederick added 4 apiece. Kalinowski and Rhoades chipped in with 2 while Murtha added a free throw.
L. Stewart lead the Knights with 7 points while C. Kline added. C. Marsh, M. Marsh, and Vogle all added 2 for Union.
It was a great game for the entire team. Each player got a lot of playing time and is improving each time we step on the floor. This has been a strange season due to the weather. With school and activities being cancelled so often, we have missed a lot of practice time. So, the games we play (sometimes 4 in a week) become our practices. We haven’t had the luxury of being able to practice on the days between games. That practice time is important to work on parts of the offense or defense that isn’t working in the games, which means we are making adjustments ‘on the fly’. The boys are doing a great job at it.
REDBANK VALLEY GAME: FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 27TH
On Friday, February 27th, Clarion traveled to Redbank to take on the Bulldogs looking to stretch their win streak to 11. The B-Team used a balanced scoring attack to earn the victory. Nine of the players registered points as the Bobcats won the game 28 – 21 to remain unbeaten at 11 – 0.
This was another game where each player got significant playing time and a lot of players contributed. Josh Craig, Nick Frederick and Greg Kalinowski all had baskets as Clarion won the first quarter 6 – 4. The Bobcats kept the offense rolling in the second by scoring 10 points. Just as important is the fact that they only gave up two. Tyler Schmader had 4 in the quarter while Nate Datko, Skylar Rhoades and Frederick each had two. Clarion entered the half leading 16 – 6.
In the third quarter, Lucas Baker executed the play of the game. He made a steal at half court, made a spin move around a defender and finished the layup to bring the fans to their feet. Lake Staub and Rhoades also scored for the Bobcats as they lead 22 – 10 entering the fourth.
The Bulldogs never gave up though, winning the fourth quarter 11 – 6. However, Clarion would win the game 28 – 21. Craig would score 4 in the quarter while Isaac Kim chipped in with two.
Craig lead the team with 6 points. Frederick, Rhoades and Schmader each had 4. Baker, Datko, Kalinowski, Kim and Staub all had 2 points. This is the third time this season that the team had 9 players score. It shows the importance of playing ‘team basketball’, having a balanced offense and having the confidence to shoot open shots. Each player on the team is happy for the other players when they score and encourage each other to take the open shots.
Anthony Baileys (not sure if it is spelled correctly) had a game high 10 points for the Bulldogs. Jordan Hicks added 7 while Dedan Fricko and Kasey Watkins each had two.
With two games remaining, The B-Team has a chance to complete an undefeated season. It won’t be easy though as they travel to C-L and AC Valley next week.
(Thanks to Coach Craig for this article. Keep up the good work,Bobcats!!!!)