Bobcats Down Lions In KSAC Girls Basketball Action

on 21 January, 2022 at 14:23

The homestanding Clarion Area Bobcats downed their neighboring rival Clarion-Limestone Lions 42-36, in a hard-fought Keystone Shortway Athletic Conference Girls basketball matchup on Thursday (January 20th).

The game started slowly with the Lions jumping out to a 5-0 lead, on a free-throw and bucket by Kendall Dunn and another two-point shot by Frances Milliron. Payton Simko answered for the Bobcats with a bucket and the first quarter ended with C-L up 5-2.

After the Lions pushed the lead to 11-2, in the second, the Cats scored on three successive trips down court, a turnaround jumper, and layup by Taylor Alston who was fouled on the second shot and made the free throw, followed by a basket by Simko, closing the gap to 11-9. Jordan Best closed out the quarter, with a layup with about five seconds on the clock, and the first half closed with C-L up by just one, 14-13.

Noel Anthony gave Clarion their first lead of the game, 15-14, with a jumper early in the third. Later, a basket by Simko put Clarion up 27-25. Best followed with a layup to move the Bobcats’ lead to 29-25. A basket by Milliron and a buzzer-beater by Dunn tied the contest a 29-all, heading to the final frame.

Rebekah Ketner, who had a great night rebounding, scored to open the fourth, giving Clarion a 31-29 lead. Five points from Alex Leadbetter, put C-L on top 34-31. Baskets by Best, and Simko and a free throw by Ketner had the Cats on top 36-34.

Dunn tied the game with a putback with under two minutes left, tying the score at 36. but a basket by Simko, followed by a pair of free throws by Best, and two more free throws by Alston set the 42-36 final.

Best led Clarion with 16 points, including two treys. Simko followed with ten. Alston had 7, Ketner scored 4 points and Anthony and Gia Babington each had two.

Dunn led C-L with a game high nineteen.

The Bobcats are scheduled to play at Keystone, tomorrow (Saturday, January 22nd), in the “Hoops for Hope” cancer awareness and fundraiser, Boys and Girls double-header.