Bobcat Junior High Boys Basketball A Team Off To 8-2 Start (02/18/20)

The Clarion Area Junior High Boys A Team is off to a fine 8-2 start, in the 2020 season. Coach Keith Murtha shares a summary of action so far.

Bobcats Downed by Union 45-32

The Junior High A team’s season got off to a slow start with their Kickoff at Union.  Union got off to a fast start, establishing a dominating 21-8 lead. In the second quarter, the Bobcats found their court legs and went on a 9-5 run to win the quarter, which brought the half time score to 26-17 in Union’s favor. Following some half time adjustments, the Bobcats came out with their strongest offensive showing yet, winning the quarter 12-11, Union remained in control 37-29. The Bobcats battled but were unable to catch a tough, speedy and big Union team, getting all players some playing time. The Bobcats succumbed to the Knights 45-32. Clarion spread the scoring out among the starters, being led Devon Lauer with 9 points. Bailee Verdill and Gabe Simko both scored 7 points. Dawson Smail chipped in 4 points, while Daunte Girvan and Brady Quinn each scored a hoop. Calvin “Chuck” Li scored a point.

Clarion’s Defense Dominates In Win Over Keystone in Hoops for Hope 44-32

In a night of Basketball for a great cause, Defense was the best offense! With a little experience, Clarion came out strong, outscoring the Panthers 13-7 in the first frame.  Dawson Smail lit a offensive fire and led his team with balance scoring by the other starters Will Clark hit for 7, Daunte Girvan for six. Bailee Verdill and Devon Lauer chipped in 5 each, with Gabe Simko and Ashton Rex dumping in 4 and 2 points respectively from the block. The paced slowed in second quarter, Keystone narrowly outscoring Clarion 6-5 to bring the half time score to 18- 13.  Following the intermission, the Bobcats turned up the pressure and went on a 16-6 run, which brought the score to 34-19 at the end of three.  The final frame showed Keystone make a run to get back in it.  Keystone went on a 13-10 run, but it was too little to late, as the Bobcats secured their first win 44-32!

Clarion Dominant Against North Clarion 60-12

Clarion traveled to Tionesta, to take on the Wolves and got off to a 9-5 run to start the first quarter. The second quarter saw the Bobcats turn the heat up and spreading the scoring around, going on a 14-2 run to end the half up 23-7.  The second half saw offensive explosion by the Bobcats at they came out and scored 19 to the Wolves 3, to bring the sore to 42-10 at the end of three.  With all players seeing significant court time and scoring, the Bobcats scored 18 in the final frame.  The Bobcats were led by Devon Lauer with 16 Points. Dawson Smail had 12, Gabe Simko had a inside presence with 9, Bryce Brinkley, Baille Verdill, and Daunte Girvan all scored 6. Will Clark and Owen Kriebel both had a single hoop and Ashton Rex chipped in a free throw.

Bobcats Stop The Fires 40-7

Defense is the name of game for the Bobcats, returning to the friendly confines of the Bobcat gym. Pushing the ball inside to big man Gabe Simko and back to guard Bryce Brinkley along with smothering defense, the Bobcats shut out Forest 14-0 in the first quarter. Behind even scoring from the rest of the team, Dauntae Girvan, Ashton Rex, Calvin “Chuck” Li and Brady Quinn.  The half score showed the Bobcats with an 11-4 run, 25-4.  Second half showed more of the same, with Clarion scoring 4 and 11 respectively and the Forest scoring 3, for a final score of 40-7.

A-C Valley, A Game for the Ages!

Traveling to Foxburg, The Bobcats took on a big and talented Falcon team. A defensive battle from the start, the Bobcats led at the end of one, 6-3. The second quarter showed the Falcons make a big run, 9-3 to lead 12-9 at half. After some half time adjustments, Clarion came out to make a 10-8 run to end the third, down by one, at 20-19. The battle back and forth continued in the fourth quarter. With the teams tied with 35 seconds left, A-C Valley scored to go up by two. Clarion has the ball, pass to the corner, to Bryce Brinkley, who has been hot and the leading scorer all day, Good for 3 at the buzzer. Bryce finishes with 12 points, Dawson Smail 5, Dauntae Girvan 4, Bailee Verdill and Devon Lauer 3 and Gabe Simko two.

Clarion suffers a Setback at Moniteau 42-35

Traveling to Moniteau, always a tough place to play, the Bobcats started slow, getting off to a 4-2 lead in first frame. The Warriors held a slight edge leading 14-13, entering the second half. Moniteau dominated Clarion going on a 18-7 run, making the score 32-20 entering the final quarter.  The Bobcats battled back, using a 15-10 run, but it wasn’t enough, losing 42-35. Unfortunately, We gave that one away but we will learn from it.  Dawson Smail led all scorers with 11 points. Gabe Simko had 6, Bailee Verdill 5, Dauntae Girvan 4, Ashton, Will, and Devon each had two points.

The Lions Fall to the Bobcats 34-28

Starting slow, Clarion had to use a strong defensive effort, and 3 strong quarters to hand cross town rival Clarion-Limestone a loss. The Lions came out roaring with a 12-7 opening quarter. The Bobcats answered with 9-4 second quarter to bring a 16-all halftime tie. The third quarter showed Clarion make a 10-6 run, to lead 26-22 entering the final frame which resulted in an 8-6 clarion run for a 34-28 win for the Bobcats! A great came played by both teams separated by a mere 7 miles.

This was a complete Team win. The Bobcats Had eight players with meaning points, led Bryce Brinkley, Bailee Verdill, Dawson Smail and Ashton Rex.

Clarion Takes Down Redbank Valley 52-38

The Bobcats came out hot, making an 11-6 run in the first quarter.  Clarion kept the pace up, with 15-7 run resulting in a 26-13 half time score.  The second half saw a pretty evenly play game, with a lot of  playing time for the entire roster. Redbank Valley slightly outpaced Clarion in the 3rd, 10-8, giving the Bobcats a 34-23 edge entering the fourth. And then The Bobcats finished strong, with 18-15 run for a final score of 52-38.  The Guards did most of the scoring in this game led by the trio of Dawson Smail, 12, Devon Lauer, 10, and Bryce Brinkley eight.  Bailee Verdill  Chipped in 7 and Will Clark with five.

The Bobcat Defense Shuts down Cranberry 51-14

Clarion played a very even game and put all their offensive and defensive strategies thru the paces. Jumping out to a 11-4 lead in quarter one. The trend continued in quarter two, with a 14-6 Bobcat advantage, for a half time score of 25-10, Clarion. Dawson Smail led all scorer with 17 points Devon Lauer had 7 and Will Clark five.  The second half showed the Bobcats with a 13-2 run, in each quarter, for a final of 51-14.

Jr. Bobats follow In Varsity’s footsteps, for a 3 point thriller with Karns City, winning 37-34

Following a big Varsity win at Karns City, the night before, The Junior Bobcats, went into Karns City and continued the theme, in front of  a decent Karns City crowd.  Clarion came prepared this time and jumped out to 12-6 lead, Karns City battled back, before the half, making a 14-3 run to take the lead at half 20-15. The third quarter showed the Bobcats battle back to retake the lead 26-23. The fourth quarter was dead even 11-11 with the Bobcats prevailing on the strength of their 11-3 third quarter run.  The Bobcats were led on the strength of their inside game and big man Gabe Simko with 16 points, Point guard, Devon Lauer had 8 points.

(Thanks to Coach Murtha for his summary. Great Start Junior High Boys A Team!!!!)