Junior High Boys Basketball A-Team Moves To 12-1, With Wins Over Redbank Valley And Clarion-Limestone (03/03/14)

The Junior High Boys Basketball Team hosted Redbank Valley last Wednesday and Clarion-Limestone on Friday. The Bobcats came away victorious in both games and are now 12-1, on the season. Coach Jesse Quinn shares these summaries:

Last week the Clarion Area Boys A Team pushed their record to 11-1 with a 40-17 victory over the Redbank Valley Bulldogs. Many games this season, our boys have been asked to throttle down by their coach. This game was no exception. The RBV boys played their hearts out, but were no match for our team. The Clarion Boys do a nice job of understanding that there are people in uniform, on the other side and they are boys just like they are.

Although tough competitors like to win and win decisively, our kids do a nice job of keeping all things in perspective. They are asked to give 100% all the time, but then also asked to be respectful and sportsmanlike in the win. They are told to ‘win with class’ and they do just that. At any point the boys could step up and turn it into a very lopsided game. They also realize that the win was never in doubt.

Leading the way for Clarion was Spencer “Spider-Man” Miller, who has returned from Florida recharged and ready to go, had 10 points in the game. Jimmy “Boom-Shaka-Laka” Smathers had 6. Four boys had 4 points. Jacob “Happy Feet” Selker, Austin “Big Shoes” Hummell, and Zach “The Bull” Bauer each added four to our total. Cam Craig put in 5 of his own, including one 3 pointer. Cam Hearst also added 3 points.

On Friday, February 28th the Clarion-Limestone Lions came to town hoping to avenge their only loss of the season.  Earlier in the year, the Clarion A-Team downed the Lions 40-28 at C-L. This time the change of venue didn’t help much. The Bobcats were again victorious 44-26.

Our boys were told, before the game started, to raise their level of play, because C-L was wanting to come in and get back at us for the only blemish on their record. Boy did they ever raise their level of play! Each of the first two quarters, the Cats scored 12 and 9 points! It was their defense all the way. As their coach, I try (and it’s not hard with this group) to instill that their intensity be focused on their defense and that will lead to easy offensive points. They buy in with every ounce! I started my coaching career 15 years ago with a man named Rob Leone. His philosophy was to get the tip, score with a layup and win the game 2-0, because of the incredible defense you play the rest of the game. I know he would like to watch this group of boys play defense!

The Bobcats took a 21-6 lead into half, holding the Lions to only 4 points in the first quarter and 2 points in the second! Outstanding defense, if you ask me. The third quarter, the boys surged even further ahead, on not only great defense, but on two nice three-point shots by Spencer Miller and Christian Smith. (Nice to have Christian back after missing the Redbank game to due illness.)

With Clarion’s three top scorers on the bench, for almost the entire 4th quarter (Craig, Smith and Smathers), we were still able to put up 10 points. This was the only quarter C-L was able to score in the double digits They had 12 in the 4th, that included a nice half court buzzer beating 3 pointer by Ian Callen. I must say for a 7th grader, Ian did an outstanding job for the Lions. Of their 26 team points, Ian had 19. So hats off to that young man. I know with boys like Julian Laugand (I hope I spelled it right), Ian Callen, Cyphert, and then throw Colby Himes into the mix, they are going to be a tough team in the very near future.

Leading the way for the Bobcats was Spencer Miller. He had a season high of 15 points, with most of his points coming from a steal, then a layup! Christian Smith was also in double digits with 10, including three 3 pointers. Christian was huge for us on the boards as well. He and Cam Craig just wouldn’t be denied the rebounds. Cam came in with 5 points. He also had more than 8 assists in the game.

Jimmy Smathers put in six points in the victory. But what Jimmy does for the team is rebound and get steals. He has a great eye for the ball and anticipates well.  Several boys had two points Bauer, Cherico, Hearst and Selker each put in 2. Again what doesn’t show up in the score book is the effort these boys give and the steals, rebounds, blocked shots never show up. What a great job by The A-Team!

Next contest is Monday March 3rd at home against North Clarion at 3:30.

(Thanks to Coach Quinn for these game summaries and keep up the good work, guys!!!!)