Boys Basketball: Bobcats Bounce Back From Narrow Losses To Down Berries And Bulldogs In Consecutive Games
The Clarion Area Bobcat Boys basketball team bounced back from close losses to down the Cranberry Berries and the Redbank Valley Bulldogs in consecutive home games this week. On Wednesday (February 5th), the Bobcats downed the Berries 58-48 and on Friday (February 7th) Clarion downed Redbank 60-57 on Senior Night.
Clarion 58 – Cranberry 48
Cranberry held a one point 12-11 lead after the first period, but a 19-10 Bobcat edge in the second had Clarion up 30-22 at the half. Cranberry had a 13-9 edge in the third, sending the game to the fourth, with the Bobcats leading 39-35. A Bobcat 19-13 edge there set the final.
Nathan Frederick lit up the scoreboard for the Bobcats, with twenty-five points. Included in his total were five treys. Mason Burford had fourteen points.
Derek Smail contributed 7 points, while Wyatt Watterson and Dylan Smail scored six apiece.
Blake Marchinke and Cole Findley led the Berries with twelve points each.
Clarion 60 – Redbank Valley 57 The Bobcats honored Derek, their lone senior and his parents Dave and Jami Smail in the Senior Night Festivities.
The Bobcats led 15-10 after one period. Redbank scored one more point, 13-12, than Clarion in the second, sending the game to the half with the Bobcats up 27-23. The third saw the Bobcats score 20 points to the Bulldogs’ 13, for a 47-36 lead heading to the fourth. A 21-13 Redbank edge there, set the final.
Mason Burford had four three-point baskets, as he and Nate Frederick led the Bobcats with fourteen points each. Dylan Smail and Derek Smail also scored in double-figures with 12 and ten points respectively. Dylan had a pair of three-pointers.
Wyatt Watterson scored 5 points, Trey Hooks had 3 and Quinn O’Neill scored two.
Braylon Wagner, Breckin Minich and Kieran Ferko led the Bulldogs’ scoring with 17, 16 and fifteen points respectively.
Clarion Area coach Sam Heeter shared, “I’m incredibly impressed and happy with the resolve the boys have shown over the past two games after suffering two close losses. We were able to accomplish all of the things that we had hoped to in that Cranberry game, and it was able to lift us to a win.
As we prepared for Redbank, we knew we matched up well with them, which meant that they also matched up well with us. We knew that it was going to be a close battle, and we prepared for such.
It was fantastic to win that game on our senior night so that we were able to celebrate Derek in good spirits. Redbank is a well coached team, and they have a lot of talent so I was looking forward to the highly anticipated game.
The Bobcats are scheduled to travel to Rocky Grove on Monday (February 10th).
(Congratulations to Derek and his parents!!!! Great Games, Cats!!!!)