CLARION, Pa. – With the game on the line, Clarion-Limestone turned to a Callen as it has done so many times over the last decade.
Jack Callen, a junior for the Lions, has pretty much played in the shadows of the other C-L stars the last couple of seasons.
But with Jase Ferguson still out with an elbow injury, Callen has taken on a more prominent role, and that wasn’t any more evident than in the final XXX second of the Lions’ stunning 56-51 win over Union in the KSAC semifinals at PennWest Clarion’s Tippin Gym.
It wasn’t stunning because favored C-L won, but it was stunning in how they did it.
After blowing a 13-point late second-quarter lead the Lions were down three, 51-48, following a Payton Johnston layup for Union with 1:00 to play.
But Callen scored off a pass from Alex Painter with 48 seconds left to make it 51-50.
He then stole Dawson Camper’s inbound pass and was fouled by Camper – his fifth – on the shot attempt.
Callen calmly stepped to the line and hit both free throws to give the Lions a 52-51 lead with 41.9 seconds left.
Callen was at it again on the ensuing inbound play stealing the ball from Zander Laughlin and this time feeding Painter to make it 54-51 C-L with 34.3 seconds to play.
Painter then came away with a steal and a layup to put the game away.
Callen talked about the victory
Down 33-20 late in the first half, Union got within 10 at halftime when Johnston nailed a 32-foot shot at the buzzer.
Zander Laughlin then took over in the third quarter scoring 11 points in the quarter to help Golden Knights close the gap to two, 43-41, by the end of the quarter.
Johnston then scored five points n the fourth quarter to help Union take the lead.
Painter led C-L with 16 points, Callen added 14 points and Jack Craig had 10 points.
Callen added six rebounds, three assists, and four steals, while Ty Rankin had six rebounds.
Laughlin led UNion with 14 points and 10 rebounds while Johnston added 13 points, five assists, and five steals. Camper chipped in nine points and 15 rebounds.
Jess Quinn and Chris Rossetti broke down the game in the QR Code Coach’s Chalkboard Postgame show, which can be seen here
C-L will take on Karns City in the championship game at 6 p.m. Saturday at Tippin Gym.
KARNS CITY 62, CLARION 49
CLARION, Pa. – Ending the third quarter on an 11-3 run, Karns City pulled away from Clarion for a 62-49 win in the KSAC semifinals at PennWest Clarion’s Tippin Gym.
The Gremlins led by nine, 35-26, midway through the third quarter when Taite Beighly and Hobie Bartoe took over.
Beighley scored seven points and Bartoe added four to push Karns City’s lead to 17 points, 46-29, by the end of the third quarter.
Taite Beighley had 21 points in the win for Karns City Thursday. Photo by Noah DiTullio/JB Graphics
The third-quarter spurt helped Beighley finish with a game-high 21 points.
He talked about his play and the victory
Bartoe added 10 points for the Gremlins, who used a quick start to set the game’s tone.
Karns City led 19-9 at the end of the first quarter and 33-20 at halftime before Clarion was able to cut into the lead in the early parts of the third quarter.
Bryce Brinkley and Gabe Simko each scored 13 points to pace the Bobcats while Derek Smail and Devon Lauer added seven each.
Karns City also got nine points from Jacob Callihan and eight from Micah Rupp.
Jess Quinn and Chris Rossetti broke down the game in the QR Code Coach’s Chalkboard Postgame show, which can be seen here
Karns City will face C-L in the title game at 6 p.m. Thursday at Tippin Gym.
RIDGWAY 43, JOHNSONBURG 26
ST. MARYS, Pa. – Aaron Sorg and Alex Merritt combined to score 35 points, as Ridgway beat Johnsonburg, 43-26.
Sorg scored a game-high 19 points with Merritt adding 16 points.
Jack Benninger scored the other eight points for the Elkers.
Isaiah Jackson led Johnsonburg with eight points.
Ridgway will face Elk County Catholic in the AML title game at 8 p.m. Saturday at St. Marys High School.
ELK COUNTY CATHOLIC 51, ST. MARYS 29
ST. MARYS, Pa. – In the AML semifinals, Elk County Catholic got a career-high 17 points from Wil Wortman to knock off St. Marys at ECC.
Wortman scored 10 points in the third quarter to help the Crusaders expand a 22-13 halftime lead into a 39-27 lead at the end of the third quarter.
Colby Nussbaum added 15 points for ECC with Adam Straub adding nine points.
Tanner Fox had 17 points for St. Marys.
ECC will face Ridgway in the AML title game at 8 p.m. Saturday at St. Marys High School.
AUSTIN 53, BUCKTAIL 50
RENOVO, Pa. – Jacob Hooftallen had 25 points and 14 rebounds to lead Austin to a 53-50 win at Bucktail.
Dawson Hooftallen chipped in 12 points and 17 rebounds, and Brayden Stuckey contributed nine points.
Brady Pentz paced Bucktail with 21 points.
GIRLS
AUSTIN 59, BUCKTAIL 32
RENOVO, Pa. – Isabella Rees and Kadence McKeirnan each had double-doubles to help visiting Austin to a 59-32 win over Bucktail.
Rees had 15 points, 13 rebounds, six steals, and five assists while McKeirnan added 14 points, 12 rebounds, and three steals.
Ella Brewer chipped in 14 points, seven rebounds, and three blocks, and Lilly Clinger added 12 points.
