Basketball Roundup: Bobcat Boys Win Punxy Tournament Opener, Bobcat Girls Win Consolation Tilt At Kane

The Clarion Area Bobcat Boys and Girls teams have been involved in tournament action this week, with the boys competing in the Punxsutawney Christmas Tournament and the Girls playing in the Kane Christmas Tournament.

Boys Basketball Action

The Bobcat Boys began play at Punxsutawney, yesterday (Wednesday, December 28th), with an opening round, 69-31 victory over the Marion Center Stingers. They will now take on Cameron County for the Tournament Championship, tonight (Thursday, December 29th), at 7:30 p.m. Cameron County downed host Punxsutawney 43-42 in three overtimes, to advance to the title tilt. Punxutawney and Marion Center play in the consolation game starting at 4:00 p.m.

The Bobcats had a scoring edge in each period, of the opening round matchup. They led 23-11 after one and with a 15-10 second quarter advantage, they went into halftime with a 38-21 lead. after outscoring the Stingers 18-5 in the third, the Cats took a 56-26 lead to the final stanza. Clarion capped the game off with an 11-9 edge in the fourth.

The Bobcats had three players scoring in double-figures. Devon Lauer led the way with 23 points (including 3 treys), 6 rebounds and four steals. Gabe Simko scored 15 points and hauled in eight caroms, and Bryce Brinkley registered 13 points (one bucket from long range), 7 rebounds and seven assists.

Also scoring for the Cats, were: Dawson Smail with 5 points (one three-pointer), Derek Smail and Logan MacKinlay with 4 apiece and Dauntae Girvan with 3 points (a trey).

Girls Basketball Action

The Clarion Girls came back from an opening round, 36-21 loss to the host Kane Wolves, on Tuesday (December 27th) to claim third place, by defeating the Youngsville Eagles 54-16, on Wednesday.

Sophie Babington led the Cats with twenty points against Youngsville. Taylor Alston added 9 points and, Gia Babington and Natalie Durish had eight points each.

Sophie Babington led the Bobcats, in the opening round matchup with Kane, with ten points (2 treys). Gia Babington had 5 points including a three pointer. Taylor Alston had 3 points, Marley Kline had 2 points and Natalie Durish had one point.

Kane held leads of 4-3 after one, 14-8 at the half and 24-15 after three.

North Clarion defeated Kane 44-18 on Wednesday to claim the championship.

(Good job by both Bobcat teams!! Have a great game tonight, Bobcat Boys!!!!)