Bobcat Boys Basketball Team Celebrates Senior Night With Victory Over Indians / Football Team Also Honored (02/13/14)

The Bobcat Boys Basketball Team played according to script in their 70-48, Senior Night victory over West Forest, on Wednesday, with every senior Bobcat there joining in the scoring.

Bobcat Seniors with parents at recognition ceremony

Antonio Troese led the seniors with 14 points, including three 3-pointers, to go along with 4 steals and a pair of assists. Two other seniors also had double figures, with Steven Smathers and Cody Hearst registering 11 points apiece. Three of Smathers’ buckets were from 3-point range. He also had five rebounds. Levi Barger, with 8 points and 7 rebounds, Ellis Painter, with 8 points, 10 assists and 5 steals and Matt Verne completed the 12th grader’s scoring parade.

The only Bobcat senior not scoring was Damien Cherico, who is in Girard for Regents Choir.

One underclassman, sophomore Taylor Smith decided to crash the seniors’ party by scoring 14 points, including three treys, to tie Troese for the Bobcat scoring lead.

The Cats led the Indians by one, 9-8, after one period and took an eight point, 27-19 lead into the locker room at half-time. Both teams had a big scoring third quarter, as the Bobcats hit for 19 and the Indians put in 16, making the score Clarion 46 – West Forest 35, heading into the fourth. But a 24 to 13 Bobcat edge, in the last stanza gave Clarion the win, going away.

The Indians’ Logan McFarland led all scorers with twenty-eight points. Garrett Bereksazi chipped in with nine.

The Bobcats will enter the District Nine Playoffs next week.

The Bobcat Seniors were honored with a ceremony held between the JV and Varsity contests. They were introduced, along with their parents and had their school activities and future plans announced to those in attendance. The seniors were given flowers, which they presented to their mothers. A highlight of the ceremony was when exchange student Joao Gubolin, from Brazil acted as surrogate for Damien Cherico, by accompanying Cherico’s parents in the procession with his face obscured behind a cardboard “Damien” mask.

The Cherico’s with Joao Gubolin standing in for Damien

In the preliminary, the Bobcat JVs defeated the Indian JVs 66-15. The Cats jumped out to a big 23-4 lead, after one, and continued to maintain a large lead throughout. The score was 43-10, at halftime and 55-12 after three periods.

Derek Lauer and Craig Kerr scored 11 points apiece, while Zach Hill joined them, in double figures, with ten. Nadir Lynch had 8 points, Ryan Anthony and Ty Burford each had six points and Luke Nellis scored five.

Mark Liu scored 4 and Thomas Plummer and Michael Bartley chipped in with two points apiece.

Nic Smail had 4 points and Blake Mealy had three for the West Forest JVs.

Another special event took place at half-time of the JV game, when the KSAC and District Nine Champion Bobcat Football players were presented with their Championship Jackets. The senior players were also presented with their jerseys. Football Booster Club President, David Hartley emceed the event. He listed many of the team’s accomplishments, then introduced the players to the crowd, as they were given their jackets. The team also displayed their KSAC and District Nine Plaques. (Photos below courtesy of G. Chad Thomas)

(Photo by G. Chad Thomas) 2013 Bobcat Football Team with Jackets

(Photo by G. Chad Thomas) Seniors with Jerseys