Basketball: Bobcats, Lady Cats Both Victorious Against Venango Catholic

(Above photo: Bobcats defending on in-bounds pass)

The Clarion Area Bobcat Boys and Lady Cats Girls Basketball Teams each came away with victories over Venango Catholic on Wednesday (January 27th). The Bobcats hit the century mark in downing the visiting Vikings 100-37, while the Lady Cats downed the homestanding Lady Vikings 50-21.

BOYS’ GAME

The Bobcats used a strong inside game all night, led by Hunter Craddock’s career-high 37 points, with the majority of their points coming from under the hoop. Hunter also had eleven rebounds for a double-double.

Clarion broke out to a 10-0 lead and never looked back. The Cats led 36-15 after one, 67-25 at the half and 91-31 after three.

Beau Verdill and Cal German were strong inside also. Beau had 16 points and Cal put up nineteen. Cal also had 8 assists and six steals. Christian Simko had a big all-around game, with 13 points (including 3 three-pointers), 5 steals and nine rebounds.

Dawson Smail had 6 points for the Bobcats. Reece Geiger had 3 and Aiden Quinn chipped in with two.

A big highlight came in the closing minute, as Fan Favorite Ezra Brooks scored on a jumper and then closed out by scoring points 99 and 100, on a steal and layup.

Venango Catholic was led by Andrew Burda with 11 points Reza Reese with 8 and Jake Liederbach with seven.

The Bobcats will travel to Forest Area on Friday (January 29th).

GIRLS’ GAME

Erica Selfridge and Payton Simko and Noel Anthony led the Lady Cats, with Erica and Payton hitting in double-figures with 16 and 10 points respectively and Noel Anthony just missing double-digits with nine.

Ava Cherico had five points, for Clarion, while Jordan Best and Rebekah Ketner each scored 4, with Paola Lopez contributing two.

Three of the four quarters were fairly close. The Lady Cats led 10-6 after one. But a big 21-4 Clarion edge in the second, moved their lead to 31-10 at the half. Clarion had a 12-6 advantage in the third, to move their lead to 43-16 heading to the final stanza. A 7-5 Clarion edge in the fourth set the final.

Lily Homan led the Lady Vikings with thirteen.

The Lady Cats will host Forest Area on Friday (January 29th).

(Keep up the good work, Bobcats and Lady Cats!!!!)