Basketball Roundup: Bobcat Boys And Girls Teams Down A-C Valley

on 15 February, 2023 at 16:25

Images by Eric Simko – Above: Logan MacKinlay, being honored with his parents (L-R) Step Mother, Bridget MacKinlay, Father, Mike MacKinlay; and Mother, Karen Marshall.

The Clarion Area Bobcats Boys and Girls teams both played A-C Valley, in Keystone Shortway Athletic Conference action, on Tuesday (February 14th), with both Clarion teams emerging victorious.

The Bobcat Boys downed the visiting Falcons 63-43, on Senior Night and the Clarion Girls downed homestanding A-C Valley 45-26.

Boys Contest: Clarion 63 – A-C Valley 43

The Bobcats held an 18-15 lead after one, and with a 14-12 second period edge, the Cats led 32-27 at the half. Clarion had a big third period, outscoring the Falcons 16-5, to take a 48-32 lead into the final stanza, where a 15-11 Bobcat advantage set the final.

Devon Lauer had a game-high 25 points, which included three treys, to lead the Cats. Two other Bobcats scored in double-figures, Dawson Smail with 18, including three buckets from beyond-the-arc, and Gabe Simko with ten points.

Derek Smail added 8 points and Bryce Brinkley contributed two.

Alex Preston led the Falcons with 19 points. Ryan Cooper followed with twelve points, all of them coming on treys.

Clarion also honored their Pep Band seniors, Gary Matis and Tyler Bingham.

( L-R) Senior Pep Band Member, Gary Matus and his parents, Joe and Rachel Matus, Logan MacKinlay, with his step mother, Bridget MacKinlay, father, Mike MacKinlay; and mother, Karen Marshall and Senior Pep Band Member Tyler Bingham, son of Marcus and Michelle Bingham.

Girls Contest: Clarion 45 – A-C Valley 26

Clarion moved out to a 21-5 lead after one quarter and increased the lead to 34-2 at the half, after posting a 13-4 edge in the second. The third was close, with Clarion having an 11-10 advantage and heading to the fourth up 45-19. A 7-0 Falcon edge in the last quarter set the final.

Sophie Babington led Clarion with a game-high 15 points, all of them coming from three-point land. Taylor Alston also hit for double-figures, with twelve.

Gia Babington and Alivia Diehl posted six points apiece. Marley Kline hit for 4 and Madilyn Baker added two.

Maddy DeHart led A-C Valley with 10 points, with Ava Snyder contributing eight, with two from long range.

Both Clarion teams will enter the KSAC Championships, with the Boys meeting Karns City in Semifinal action tomorrow (Thursday, February 16th) at Tippin Gymnasium. Tipoff is set for 6:00 pm. The Girls will enter Semifinal action against Moniteau, at Tippin, on Friday (February 17th) at 6:00 pm also.

(Let’s Go, Cats!!!!, Congratulations to Logan, Gary and Tyler and their parents!!!! Thanks to Eric Simko for his images!!)