Basketball Roundup: Bobcat Boys, Girls Both Victorious In District Nine Class-A Consolation Opening Round

on 28 February, 2023 at 17:14

Above photo: Gabe Simko controlling the Opening Tip for the Bobcats

Both Clarion Area Basketball Teams came away with District Nine Class-A Consolation Bracket first round wins, on Monday (February 27th)

The Bobcat boys, playing at home, downed Smethport 83-28, while the girls defeated Ridgway 35-29 at St. Marys.

The Bobcat boys will play Keystone, at Clarion-Limestone, on Thursday (March 2nd) in the second consolation round, with Tipoff scheduled for 7:00 pm. Keystone defeated Johnsonburg 43-29 in their opener. The Girls will face Port Allegheny the same night, the location and time is to be determined. Port Allegany downed Northern Potter 45-41 in their matchup.

The winners of Thursday’s games will advance to the PIAA State playoffs.

Boys Game: Clarion 83 – Smethport 28

The Bobcats led wire-to-wire in this one, as they jumped out to a 14-0 lead in the first period. The Cats a several treys in the frame. Lauer had 10 of his game-high twenty-five points, in the period, while Brinkley and Gabe Simko had seven each had points in the first, as Clarion moved out to a 32-8 lead heading to the second.

**Photo Courtesy of Nate Girvan: Dawson Smail shooting from long range against the Hubbers**

The Bobcats were up 43-16 late in the second, when Derek Smail sank a pair of buckets, followed by two baskets by Lauer, to extend Clarion’s lead to 51-16 at the half.

The third saw the Cats with a 17-9 edge, with Lauer scoring nine points. Clarion’s lead after three was 68-25. The Bobcats had a 15-3 edge in the fourth, to set the final. Owen Kriebel collecting the majority of his thirteen points in the frame (including a pair of treys).

Clarion Head Coach Scott Fox was very happy about the win. (We had some intensity) we were lacking in the last two games. Came out got some steals and easy buckets.

“We played great defense. We played great team basketball tonight. It was great. Everybody contributed. Everybody worked hard. They had a good game.”

Bobcat Stats: Devon Lauer – 25 points (3 treys), Dawson Smail – 15 points (3 treys), Owen Kriebel – 13 points (1 trey), Gabe Simko – 9 points, Bryce Brinkley – 9 points (1 trey), Derek Smail – 7 points, Tanner Miller – 5 points (1 trey).

Seth Sanderson led the Hubbers with nine points.

Girls Game: Clarion 35 – Ridgway 29

The Bobcats had a 23-17 halftime edge in the game and both teams scored twelve points in the second half.

Sophie Babington led Clarion with 21 points, including three buckets from beyond-the-arc. Taylor Alston added fifteen points.

Gabby Amacher led the Elkers with fourteen points.

(Good Job, Cats!!!! Thanks to Nate Girvan for his photo and Chris Rossetti and EYT/D9and10Sports.com for the Girls information!!)