Varsity Boys Basketball: Bobcats Down Cranberry In Home Opener (12/13/15)
Led by Jon Smith’s twenty-six points, the homestanding Clarion Area Boys Basketball Team moved their season and KSAC North record to 2-0, by downing Cranberry 47-43, on Friday (December 11th).
Jon Smith taking an inside shot
Smith scored three straight to open the game and followed by a free throw by Ty Burford, who had nine points on the night, the Cats had an early 7-0 lead. Smith would also have a crowd pleasing, slam dunk later in the period as the Cats jumped out to lead 17-7 after one.
Smith scored ten points, in the second stanza and Burford contributed four more, including a trey, helping the Cats to a thirteen point 33-20 halftime advantage.
The Berries cut the lead to nine (39-30), holding the Cats to three buckets in the third (one each by Bo Miller, Burford and Smith), while scoring ten of their own in the third period. The Berries had an 8-2 run to close out the stanza.
Bo Miller passing the ball
The Berries scored on a two-pointer to open the final period. Cam Craig put in a bucket, followed by another deuce by Cranberry. A Smith bucket moved the Cats out to a 43-34 lead. But the Berries weren’t done. With the game clock winding down, Tylor Ziegler drained a 3-pointer. And after two free throws by Smith, Brendan Zerbe followed with two straight treys, for Cranberry, to pull within two at 45-43.
But with seconds remaining Smith hit another pair from the charity stripe, to seal the Cats’ hard fought 47-43 victory.
Jon Smith Eyeing one of game ending free throws
But with seconds remaining Smith hit another pair from the charity stripe, to seal the Cats’ hard fought 47-43 victory.
Luke Nellis and Spencer Miller also contributed two points apiece, in the Bobcat victory. Zerbe had sixteen and Evan Lutz had ten to lead the Berries.
The Cats will host North Clarion on Wednesday (December 16th).
CAT QUOTES
Coach Quinn:
“What matters is we ended up getting the win. We’re 2-and-0 in the KSAC North. We have a lot of work to do. Going into halftime with a thirteen point lead, I told the guys, ‘We can’t be satisfied.’ We came out. We ran a lot. That’s well. But they were running and taking time and looking to score. We still want to look to score, not just take time off the clock. So we have a lot of work to do.
If we’re going to give C-L a run for their money and Union and all those other top notch teams, we have a lot of work to do.”
(On Burford’s play) “We really try to preach defense and (Ty Burford) did a real nice job, stepping into the lane, taking that pass away after they drive. And Bo always does a nice job (smart).
“Jon took over in the first half. The second half, the shots just didn’t fall for him. That’s where the other guys on the team have to pick it up. He did a nice job. He rebounded well. But looking at everything. We can’t be one dimensional. Not at all. We can’t be… But overall, I’m happy with the win But we have a lot of work to do.”