HYDE – An injury depleted Clearfield Area High School girls basketball team went down at the hands of the visiting Lady Chucks of Punxsutawney Monday night on the Lady Bison home court, 39-29. The loss dropped the Lady Bison to 1-4 on the season.
Last season the two squads split, with Clearfield winning the first game in double overtime, 60-55, and the Lady Chucks coming out on top in the re-match, 68-55.
Missing starter Breanna Peters, the Lady Bison put up a good fight throughout most of the 32 minutes, as 6’ 3” Dakota Farmery returned to the line-up for the first time since opening night.
Farmery responded by leading Clearfield with 13 points and a bunch of rebounds on both ends of the floor, but it was the supporting cast missing Peters that perhaps doomed the Lady Bison.
Clearfield head coach Joey Castganolo knows that when he gets his full line-up back things will be different, as he remarked, “Punxsutawney played excellent defense at times on Farmery (Dakota), but when Peters (Breanna) gets healthy and comes back, they and other teams will have a much tougher time defending us.”
The Lady Chucks took the opening eight minutes 12-10, but it was the second quarter that had a different twist to it.
Clearfield, which came out and went on a 7-0 run to forge in front, 17-12, was highlighted by a three pointer by Lady Bison Brianna Spencer with 5:40 left in the second frame.
Unfortunately Clearfield would not record another point until 6:37 was remaining in the third quarter. A drought that lasted seven minutes and three seconds.
Meanwhile, back to the second quarter, the Lady Chucks went on a 12-0 run of their own to end the half leading 24-17, and feeling pretty good.
The Lady Bison would come as close as they would get the rest of the game, scoring the first four points to start the second half, cutting the Punxsutawney margin to 24-21.
Another run by the Lady Chucks, 8-0, gave the visitors a double digit lead for the first time, 32-21 and put them in command, 32-23, at the end of three.
The fourth quarter was uneventful, as Punxsutawney would maintain a 10 point lead most of the final eight minutes, which turned out to be the winning margin.
Spencer helped Farmery out with eight points to help pace the Lady Bison offense, while Alyssa Reitz, off of the bench, led the Lady Chucks with 13.
Castagnolo did like one certain aspect of the game as he commented, “ I was very pleased with the fact that we played with a lot more poise in the second half and hopefully that will carry over.”
Punxsutawney won the junior varsity game in beating Clearfield by a score of 54-20.
The Lady Bison will return to the hardwood with a home game on Wednesday when they battle Bald Eagle Area. Tip-off is set for 7:30 pm.
See photos of the game here: http://www.ladybisonsports.org/lbsbball121712.html
PUNXSUTAWNEY — 39
Ashley Reitz 1 0-0 2, Taylor Newcome 2 0-0 4, Emily Horner 1 1-5 3, Jensen Constantino 3 1-2 7, Allie Fye 2 0-1 4, Alyssa Reitz 5 0-0 13, Shaina Painter 2 1-2 5, Anna Horner 0 1-2 1, Nicole DiPietro 0 0-0 0, TOTALS – 16 4-12 39.
CLEARFIELD — 29
Brianna Spencer 3 0-0 8, Brittany Renaud 2 0-0 4, Tessa Munshower 1 0-1 2, Dakota Farmery 4 5-8 13, Maggie Sopic 0 1-2 1, Emily Ryan 0 1-3 1, Devynn Ireland 0 0-0 0, Emily Aveni 0 0-0 0, Mary Ishman 0 0-1 0, Sara Lash 0 0-0 0, TOTALS – 10 7-15 29.
SCORE BY QUARTERS
PUNXSUTAWNEY 12 12 8 7 39
CLEARFIELD 10 7 6 6 29
THREE-POINTERS: Alyssa Reitz 3, Spencer 2
OFFICIALS: John Fricker, Greg Posteraro, Rich Rhodes
Lady Bison Scoreboard:
Date | Opponent | Score | Record |
@ Brookville Tip-Off Tourney | |||
12/07 | Clarion-Limestone | 36-54 | 0 – 1 |
12/08 | North Clarion | 41 – 36 | 1 – 1 |
12/12 | CENTRAL | 25 – 57 | 1 – 2 |
12/14 | @ Huntingdon | 34 – 51 | 1 – 3 |
12/17 | PUNXSUTAWNEY | 29 – 39 | 1 – 4 |
12/19 | BALD EAGLE AREA | ||
12/21 | BELLEFONTE |