Jan. 12 District 9 boys’ basketball recaps
ELK COUNTY CATHOLIC 51, PUNXSUTAWNEY 49, OVERTIME
PUNXSUTAWNEY, Pa. – Charlie Breindel’s buzzer-beater in overtime gave visiting Elk County Catholic a 51-49 win over Punxsutawney.
The Chucks had forced the extra session when Ryen Heigley threw a full-court pass to Zach Presloid, whose layup with one second left in regulation tied the game at 47.
The teams then traded baskets in overtime with Jordan Wasko scoring for ECC and Donnie Neese for Punxsutawney before Breindel’s game-winning shot.
The Chucks, who trailed 17-9 at the end of the first quarter, rallied to take a 28-22 halftime lead and were still up three, 40-37, going to the fourth quarter before the Crusaders retook the lead thanks in part to a 3-pointer by Wasko, and 3 of 5 free throws from Breindel.
But less than stellar free-throw shooting in the final eight minutes by ECC allowed Punxsutawney to hang around. The Crusaders were just 5 of 10 in the fourth quarter from the line part of a 9 of 15 performance in the game.
Breindel led ECC with 17 points with Adam Straub adding 15 and Wasko 10.
Neese paced Punxsutawney with 15 points with Heigley adding 11 and Noah Weaver 10.
DUBOIS 36, ST. MARYS 33
ST. MARYS, Pa. – Ryan Kovalyak and Joey Foradora each hit fourth-quarter 3-pointers, and Chooch Husted scored six of his game-high 14 points in the final eight minutes to help visiting DuBois rally past St. Marys, 36-33.
The Beavers trailed 27-20 going to the final eight minutes but outscored the Dutch 16-6 in the fourth quarter.
Foradora, who scored five fourth-quarter points added eight points in the win.
Tanner Fox led St. Marys with 10 points with Tyler Mitchell adding eight.
KANE 27, BRADFORD 26
KANE, Pa. – Josh Greville blocked a late shot by Bradford’s Jake Franz, as Kane held off the visiting Owls, 27-26.
Down one, Franz had a 12-foot dribble pull-up jumper, according to Kane head coach Caleb Landmesser, that Greville got a piece off and Andy Jekielek rebounded as time expired. It was one of a team-best seven rebounds for Jekielek.
Kane overcame a slow start to secure the victory, as the Wolves were down 11-2 at the end of the first quarter.
But Jekielek scored 12 of his game-high 16 points in the middle two frames to help Kane outscore the Owls 19-12 in those quarters to get back within two, 23-21.
Greville then hit a basket and Jekielek and Jack Bell each hit two free throws in the fourth quarter to complete the comeback.
Bell chipped in six points, four rebounds, two assists, and two steals in the win.
Cam Austin led Bradford with eight points with Dalton Dixon and Franz each adding seven.
A 28 percent shooting night that included a 1-for-12 performance from 3-point range hurt the Owls.
OSWAYO VALLEY 48, NORTHERN POTTER 46
ULYSSES, Pa. – Nolan Smith’s contested 3-pointer at the end of the game won’t fall, and visiting Oswayo Valley held off Northern Potter, 48-46, in NTL action.
On the strength of a 23-point second quarter, Oswayo Valley led by 13, 40-27, going to the final eight minutes before Northern Potter got a lift off the bench from Ty Daniels to get back in the game.
Daniels, who scored 10 points, hit a pair of fourth-quarter 3-pointers for the Panthers, who also got four points each in the quarter from Tanyon Brown and Gary Bliss.
But Brayden Wiley hit a 3-pointer of his own, and Cayden Black scored four points in the final frame to help the Green Wave hold on for the victory.
Black and Connor Resig each scored six points during the 23-point second-quarter outburst that gave Oswayo Valley a 33-21 lead at halftime after the teams entered the second quarter tied at 10.
Black led the Green Wave, who broke a six-game losing streak, with 18 points with Wiley and Mike Mertsock each adding seven points.
Brown had a monster game for Northern Potter with eight points, 15 rebounds, 11 blocks, and six steals. Smith added 15 points, six rebounds, and three steals, and Bliss also recorded eight points.
CAMERON COUNTY 52, PORT ALLEGANY 35
PORT ALLEGANY, Pa. – Hayden Brown scored 25 of his game-high 29 points in the first half, as Cameron County rolled to a 52-35 road NTL win over Port Allegany.
Behind Brown, who has scored a career-high 29 points in back-to-back games, the Red Raiders led 32-13 at halftime.
Port Allegany put a box-and-one on Brown in the second half, but Camdyn Allison, Alan Erickson, Brevin Lewis, and Josh Beer each hit second-half 3-pointers to help Cameron County maintain the lead.
Beer added seven points with Allison chipping in six for the Red Raiders.
Braylon Button led Port Allegany with 11 points, Noah Archer added eight points, four rebounds, and three assists, Drew Evens had seven points, five rebounds, four steals, and four blocks, and Blaine Moses had a team-high eight rebounds to go with three assists and a point.
COUDERSPORT 69, GALETON 20
COUDERSPORT, Pa. – Led by 17 points, six rebounds, six steals, and five assists from Christian Furman, Coudersport rolled past visiting Galeton, 69-20, in NTL action.
In all, five Falcons reached double digits, including an 11-point, 11-rebound effort from Garrett Kellert.
Brady Streich added 16 points and six assists, and Logan Ruter and Mason Roessner each scored 11 points.
Aiden Whipple scored 10 to lead Galeton.
