Junior High Boys Basketball Recaps For Week Of February 1st (02/08/16)
A-Team recap by Coach Dan Alderton
The Junior High boys basketball team had a busy week with three games. The “A” team went 2-1, with wins against Forest Area and Moniteau. The lone loss came against cross-town rival Clarion-Limestone.
(Photos by Christie Datko) Bobcats’ Skylar Rhoades and C-L’s Hayden Callan at tip off!
On Monday, the Bobcats traveled to Marienville to face the Forest Area Fires. Clarion jumped out to a big first quarter lead of 18-0 and never looked back. It was 31-2 going into halftime. The final score was 40 – 9.
Leading the way for the Bobcats was Skylar Rhoades with 10 points. Rhoades scored the first ten points of the game with five quick lay-ups. The Bobcats saw 9 different players score.
Other players to get their name in the scorebook was Nick Frederick with 6, Jacob Burns, Josh Craig, Clay McElravy, Nate Datko, and Greg Kalinowski each with 4 points. Gavin Brinkley and Isaac Kim each had 2 points.
On Wednesday, Clarion-Limestone traveled to Clarion and defeated the Bobcats by a score of 43-38. The score was 6-2 after one with the Lions leading. The second quarter was the difference maker with the Lions scoring 17 points taking the halftime score to 23-12.
Bobcats playing DEFENSE!
The Lions were able to use fast break lay-ups to quickly increase the lead. The Bobcats rallied in the fourth quarter and scored 18 points to try to close the lead but fell short at the final buzzer.
Leading scorers for the Bobcats was Skylar Rhoades with 9 points. Nick Frederick and Josh Craig each had 7, Gavin Brinkley had 5, Clay McElravy and Jacob Burns each at 4, and Nate Datko rounded out the scoring with 2 points.
Score by Quarters
First: Clarion-Limestone 6 – Clarion 2
Second: Clarion-Limestone 25 – Clarion 12
Third: Clarion-Limestone 36 – Clarion 20
Final: Clarion-Limestone 43 -Clarion 38
On Friday, the Warriors of Moniteau visited Clarion. The Bobcats jumped out to a big lead of 23-2 in the first quarter, and a 27-8 at halftime. The final score was 37-11. Leading the way for Clarion was Nate Datko with 9 points. Clay McElravy and Skylar Rhoades each scored 8 points. Josh Craig and Gavin Brinkley had 4 points apiece, and Nick Frederick and Tijon Faulk-Taylor each tallied 2 points.
First: Clarion 23 – Moniteau 2
Second: Clarion 27 – Moniteau 8
Third: Clarion 34 – Moniteau 11
Final: Clarion 37 – Moniteau 24
B-Team Recap by Coach Jason Craig:
On Monday (February 1), the Jr. High Boys B-Team traveled to Marienville to take on the Forest Fires. Nine different players scored for the Bobcats as they won 47-5 and improved to 4-0 on the season. So far this season, the team has outscored their opponents by a total of 152-37.
Ethan Burford going stong to the hoop against Clarion-Limestone
The Bobcats got off to a fast start, outscoring the Fires 11-1 in the first quarter. Ethan Burford drained a 3-pointer and another basket for 5 points in the quarter. Hunter Craddock had 4 points and Tyler Schmader added a basket.
Three different players got in the scoring column in the second quarter. Cal German and Donnie Cunningham each had 4 points and Mitch Geiger had 2 as we headed to halftime with a 21-1 lead.
In the 3rd quarter, the Bobcats kept the scoring going with 13 more points. Schmader lead the way with 4 points in quarter, Ben Murtha added three while Beau Verdill, Craddock and Cunningham each had two points.
Clarion would also win the final stanza 13-2 to set the score at 47-5. Lucas Baker and Geiger had 4 points each in the frame. Craddock added 2 points while German hit a buzzer beater from beyond the arc to complete the scoring.
Scoring for the Bobcats were Craddock (8), German (7), Geiger, Schmader and Cunningham (6), Burford (5), Baker (4), Murtha (3) and Verdill (2). No names were available for the scoring for Forest.
On Wednesday (February 3rd) the Jr. High Boys B-Team improved their record to 5-0 on the season with a 46-24 win over visiting Clarion-Limestone.
The Bobcats got 4 points from Mitch Geiger and Hunter Craddock to jump out to an 11-6 lead after the first quarter. Beau Verdill added a basket and Tyler Schmader made a free throw.
The second quarter looked much like the first. Clarion won the quarter 11-6. Schmader and Ethan Burford each scored 4, Lucas Baker had 2 and Verdill made a free throw as the Bobcats went into the half with a 22-12 lead.
Clarion kept the scoring going in the second half. Schmader and Craddock each had 4 points in the third and Verdill drained a shot from beyond the arc to help win the quarter 11-5.
The Bobcats got hot from long range in the fourth with 3-pointers from Ben Murtha and Burford. Schmader, German and Craddock also had baskets for Clarion as they won quarter 13-7 to set the score at 46-24.
Clarion used its size advantage to really control the game. Schmader paced the Bobcats with 11 points and 10 rebounds. Craddock followed with 10 points and 4 boards. Also scoring for Clarion were Burford (7), Verdill (6), Geiger and Murtha (4), Baker and German (2).
Brandon N. lead the Lions with 6 points followed by Braden Rankin with 5. Other scorers for C-L were Hayden Seigel and Kayden Park (4), Kayden Coull and Gabe Coull (2), and Keidon Smith added a free throw.
First: Clarion 11 – Clarion-Limestone 6
Second: Clarion 22 – Clarion-Limestone 12
Third: Clarion 33 – Clarion-Limestone 17
Final: Clarion 46 – Clarion-Limestone 24
The Jr. High Boys B-Team kept their undefeated season going with a 37-14 win over Moniteau on Friday (February 5th). The win moves the Bobcats to 6-0 on the season.
The Bobcat offense got off to a bit of a slow start, but the defense was solid and they won the quarter 6-0. Tyler Schmader had 4 points in the first and Mitch Geiger added two.
The offense got back on track in the second, outscoring the Warriors 12-2 to take an 18-2 lead into the half. Cal German lead the way with 4 points in the quarter. Lucas Baker and Schmader each had 3 points while Ben Murtha had two.
The team stayed hot in the third, scoring 15 points while only allowing 4. Hunter Craddock and German each netted 4 points while Murtha added an old-fashioned three point play, making the basket and the free throw. Ethan Burford and Schmader also had baskets in the quarter.
The Warriors won the final quarter 8-4 to set the final at 37-14. Burford and Schmader each had baskets in the quarter.
Tyler Schmader lead the way offensively with 11 points to go with 7 rebounds. This is the 4th time in six games that Tyler has been the leading scorer. His aggressiveness as a “big man” makes him a tough match for the opposing team. Other scorers for the Bobcats were German (8), Murtha (5), Burford and Craddock (4), Baker (3) and Geiger (2).
Top scorer for Moniteau was Hershey with 8 points. Mershemer, Petite and McKennley each had two.
First: Clarion 6 – Moniteau 0
Second: Clarion 18 – Moniteau 2
Third: Clarion 33 – Moniteau 6
Final: Clarion 37 – Moniteau 14
The Bobcats played Monday (February 8th) traveling to A-C Valley to take on the Falcons. They return home on Wednesday for a home game against Redbank Valley.
(Thanks to Coach Alderton and Coach Craig for the recaps, to Christie Datko for the photos and Nate McClaine for the scores by quarters.)