HYDE — After opening the 2014-2015 season on the road for a tournament and league play in Roaring Spring, it was finally time for the Lady Bison of Clearfield to take to the home court of the Bison Gymnasium. Â The last time the team was on that hardwood, they were wondering what happened when their final game of the 2013-14 season saw them have a lead, but lose it in the late going.
However, it was a new team, new goals, and head coach Joey Castagnolo at the helm once again. Â The opposition on opening night at the home gym, the Lady Bearcats of Huntingdon.
The home team had a lot of heart, and had moments where things seemed to work in their favor. Â Unfortunately, Clearfield could not put together four solid quarters, not once seeing a lead in the game, and would fall in a 37-25 final.
“I thought we played great in the second half. Â We made some good reads, didn’t turn the ball over, and made solid passes,” Castagnolo said afterward. Â “But we just had a bad run and couldn’t get out of it.”
The first half was a very low-scoring affair on both sides of the basket. Â After just one quarter of play, the Lady Bison were only down four points, seemingly very much, still in the game. Â But, in reality the score was 4-0 in favor of Huntingdon, as the Bison couldn’t make a shot fall in the first eight minutes.
It would be a recurring theme on the night as Clearfield would only go 12-for-41 from the floor, with many of the missed shots hitting the rim multiple times and bouncing out.
“We had many great shots tonight. Â It just didn’t fall our way. Â We shot well, but the ball just didn’t go through,” Castagnolo said.
Emily Ryan had her best night thus far on the season as she would lead the Bison with 10 points and added eight rebounds. Â No other Bison player would get over five points on the night. Â On the opposite side of the ball, the Lady Bearcats were beginning to roll early, and often. Â Specifically, it was Bri Rivello that was rolling early, often, and both inside and deep for points.
Rivello led all scoring with 19 points, including going 3-for-3 from three-point range, adding nine rebounds plus six steals.
Clearfield did not fair any better in the opening junior varsity contest, falling 38-31.
Now at 1-3, the Lady Bison have two more home games to start the upcoming week, back-to-back contests on Monday and Tuesday against Punxsutawney and Bellefonte. Â For Castagnolo, even though his team does have one win already on the year, he wants to see his team get a win against an opponent in their league, which won’t come until they take on Bellefonte.
“I really want a Mountain League win. Â We are capable, we just have to put a full game together.
Tip-off for both Monday and Tuesday’s contest will be 6 p.m. for the junior varsity game, which will be followed by the varsity game afterward.
SCORE BY QUARTER
Huntingdon  4  8  19  6  –  37
Clearfield  0  8  8  9  –  25
Huntingdon 37
Marker 1 0-2 3, Gutshall 0 0-0 0, Felton 3 1-3 7, Kyle 0 0-0 0, Coffman 0 0-0 0, Keller 3 0-0 8, McCrum 0 0-2 0, Gearhart 0 0-0 0, Rivello 7 2-3 19, Hawkins 0 0-0 0, Miller 0 0-0 0. Â Totals 14 3-10 37
Clearfield 25
Castagnolo 0 0-0 0, Cline 0 0-0 0, Ryan 5 0-0 10, Lindstrom 0 0-0 0, Waring 0 0-0 0, Riddell 0 0-0 0, Rockmore 0 0-0 0, Aveni 1 0-2 2, Sopic 2 0-0 4, Glenny 2 1-4 5, Ishman 2 0-0 4, Boal 0 0-0 0. Â Totals 12 1-6 27
GAME STATISTICS
Huntingdon/Clearfield
FIeld Goals Made-Att: Â 14-47/12-41
Turnovers: Â 22/20
Rebounds: Â 27/25
Team Fouls: Â 9/15
Three-Point Shots: Â Marker, Keller (2), Rivello (3)/None
Lady Bison Scoreboard:
Date | Opponent | Score | Record |
@ Brookville Tip-off Tourney | |||
12/05 | vs. Northern Clarion | 25 – 43 | 0 – 1 |
12/06 | Clarion-Limestone | 63 – 40 | 1 – 1 |
12/10 | @ Central | 38 – 57 | 1 – 2 |
12/12 | HUNTINGDON | 25 – 37 | 1 – 3 |
12/15 | PUNXSUTAWNEY | ||
12/16 | BELLEFONTE | ||
12/19 | @ Tyrone | ||
12/22 | @ Brookville | ||
12/29 | CURWENSVILLE | ||
01/05 | @ Punxsutawney | ||
01/07 | BALD EAGLE AREA | ||
01/09 | @ Penns Valley | ||
01/13 | PHILIPSBURG-OSCEOLA | ||
01/16 | ST. MARYS | ||
01/21 | CENTRAL | ||
01/23 | @ Huntingdon | ||
01/27 | @ Bellefonte | ||
01/30 | TYRONE | ||
02/04 | @ Bald Eagle Area | ||
02/06 | PENNS VALLEY | ||
02/10 | @ Philipsburg-Osceola | ||
02/13 | @ Curwensville |