PUNXSUTAWNEY, Pa. – Gabe Simko’s offensive rebound and putback at the horn off a missed free throw by Bryce Brinkley gave Clarion a 54-53 win over Cameron County in the opening round of the Carl Truance Classic at Punxsutawney.
Clarion had a shot at the end because of some lousy Cameron County free-throw shooting and an inadvertent official’s whistle.
With the Red Raiders up two, 53-51, Jake Narby was fouled with 4.5 seconds left.
Narby, though, missed both free throws making Cameron County 6 of 15 from the line in the game and Dawson Smail got the rebound for Clarion.
Smail was in the process of throwing a long outlet pass when the official’s whistle blew with 2.8 seconds left thinking a timeout had been called.
But Clarion hadn’t called time, and the officials put 4.2 seconds back on the clock and gave the Bobcats the ball under the new inbound rules at the ¾ court mark.
Derek Smail then got the ball to his brother, Dawson, who pushed it ahead to Brinkley, who was fouled by Narby as he attempted to go around him on the baseline for an open layup.
Brinkley sunk the first free throw but missed the second setting up the rebound and putback by Simko, who outjumped Josh Smith for the carrom.
Simko talked about the game-winning play on the Cole Orthodontic Associates Postgame Interview after being named the Allegheny Grille of Foxburg Player of the Game.
Clarion led 50-45 after a Derek Smail layup with 4:16 left, but Cameron County went on an 8-1 run to take a 53-51 lead with 36.5 seconds left on a Landon Farren basket off a Smith pass.
Those two accounted for six of the eight points and three assists on the run with Smith starting the run off a pass from Farren and Farren taking a pass from Smith to make it 50-49.
The Red Raiders then took a 51-50 lead on a Smith layup with 1:29 to play before Dawson Smail tied the game with a free throw with 1:10 left.
After Farren’s go-ahead basket, Lauer was whistled for an offensive foul, his fifth, with 12.2 seconds left.
It was only Clarion’s second foul, so the Bobcats had to give three more before sending Narby to the line late where he missed setting up the wild game-ending sequence.
Rewatch the game
Lauer led Clarion with 19 points with Dawson Smail scoring 13 and Simko eight.
Smith finished with a game-high 20 points for Cameron County, while Farren netted 13 and Josh Beer had 12. Ryan Shaffer also had eight.
Clarion faces Punxsutawney in the title game Friday, while Cameron County takes on Marion Center in Friday’s consolation contest.
PUNXSUTAWNEY 53, MARION CENTER 46
PUNXSUTAWNEY, Pa. – Allegheny Grille of Foxburg Player of the Game Zach Presloid scored 15 points to lead Punxsutawney to a 53-46 win over Marion Center in the opening round of the Carl Truance Classic at Punxsutawney.
Rewatch the game
Presloid netted six of his points in the fourth quarter to help the Chucks hold off the Stingers.
Zach Presloid.
Presloid talked about his efforts and the win on the Cole Orthodontic Associates Postgame Interview.
Noah Kengersky added 13 points, 11 in the first half, for the CHucks, who led 33-21 at halftime.
Kamden Rozier led Marion Center with 14 points with Cameron Pack and Evan Risinger each scoring nine tallies.
Punxsutawney will face Clarion in Friday’s title game, while Marion Center takes on Cameron County in the consolation contest.
FARRELL 67, MEADVILLE 60
FARRELL, Pa. – Trailing 37-33 at halftime, Farrell outscored Meadville 21-7 in the third quarter on its way to a 67-60 win.
Danny Odem scored nine of his 13 points in the third-quarter surge for the Steelers (4-1), who led 54-44 after the third quarter.
In addition to Odem, all four of Farrell’s other starters were also in double figures.
Simeir Wade scored seven of his team-high 17 points in the fourth quarter to help the Steelers close out the game, while Juelz Johnson and JuJu Phillips had 12 points each and Kabron Smith 11.
Lucas Luteran (23) and Jack Burchard (20) combined for 43 of Meadville’s (5-3) 60 points. Luteran scored 13 of his points in the first half. Both players also fouled out late in the fourth quarter when the Bulldogs were fouling to extend the game.
Kellen Ball was also in double figures for Meadville with 10 points.
FRANKLIN 81, KARNS CITY 61
FRANKLIN, Pa. – Damon Curry scored 11 of his game-high 27 points in the first quarter as Franklin built a 21-9 lead and never looked back in an 81-61 win over Karns City in the Dick Russell Christmas Tournament.
Curry knocked down seven 3’s in the game for Franklin (5-3) as the Knights led at halftime, 45-22.
Franklin hit 11 triples in the game, as Damaro Payne connected on a pair and finished with 17 points, while Cole Buckley was also in double figures with 16 points.
Taite Beighley led Karns City (4-3) with 18 points, while Luke Kramer had 16 and Jacob Callihan 13.
HICKORY 69, ALBERT GALLATIN 52
WASHINGTON, Pa. – Hickory built a 41-16 halftime lead on its way to a 69-52 win over Albert Gallatin in the consolation game of the Trinity Christmas Tournament.
Rylan Dye poured in a game-high 23 points for the Hornets (5-3), 19 of which came in the fourth quarter, to go along with two rebounds, two assists and two steals.
Landon Bean had 14 points for HIckory, while Dom Uberti and Ryan Robich had 11 points each. Bean had seven rebounds, while Uberti had four rebounds and four assists and Robich four rebounds, four steals and three assists.
Blake White had 14 points and Shymere Wilson 12 for Albert Gallatin.
OIL CITY 59, ROCKY GROVE 40
FRANKLIN, Pa. – Ethen Knox led three Oil City players in double figures with 19 points in a 59-40 win over Rocky Grove in the Dick Russell Christmas Tournament.
Knox scored 15 of his 19 points in the first half for the Oilers (6-2), while Will McMahon had 15 points and Sayyid Donald 10.
Noah Baughman scored a game-high 20 points for Rocky Grove (5-3).
DUBOIS 64, BROOKVILLE 40
DUBOIS, Pa. – Tyson Kennis scored 24 points as DuBois powered past Brookville, 64-40 for the DuBois Holiday Tournament title.
Leading 26-19 at halftime, DuBois (6-3) outscored Brookville (3-5) 38-21 in the second half.
Cam Thompson was also in double figures for DuBois with 13 points.
Kellan Haines had 13 points for Brookville and Carter Mackins added eight.
DUBOIS CENTRAL CATHOLIC 61, BROCKWAY 25
DUBOIS, Pa. – Andrew Green connected for 21 points to help lift DuBois Central Catholic to a 61-25 win over Brockway in the consolation game of the DuBois Holiday Tournament.
DCC (5-4) led 27-14 at halftime and scored 27 points in the third quarter to pull away.
Green scored 11 of his points during the big third quarter, while Marek Hoyt added 12 points, Johnny Varischetti eight and Brayden Fox seven. Varischetti also had four rebounds and Lucas Fragale and Green three assists.
Kolton Kahle had eight points to lead Brockway (1-7).
SHEFFIELD 46, KANE 43
SHEFFIELD, Pa. – Leihden Wotorson scored 26 points to lead Sheffield to a 46-43 win over Kane in the championship game of the Sheffield Christmas Tournament.
Sheffield trailed 34-28 going to the fourth quarter and outscored Kane 18-9 over the final eight minutes
Sheffield (4-6) held a big advantage at the free throw line, going 15-of-22, while Kane (5-4) was 3-of-4.
Wotorson scored 11 of his points in the fourth quarter, while also notching six steals, while Allen Eaton had nine points and five rebounds and Colby Barr 10 rebounds.
Dane Anderson led Kane with 15 points.
YOUNGSVILLE 61, SMETHPORT 41
SHEFFIELD, Pa. – Rylan Benton and Nathan Lucks combined for 45 points as Youngsville beat Smethport, 61-41 in the consolation game of the Sheffield Christmas Tournament.
Youngsville (5-4) raced out to a 33-14 halftime lead as Lucks scored 10 of his 21 points in the first quarter and Benton 10 of his 24 in the second quarter.
Both Lucks and Benton connected on four 3’s each.
Colin Okerlund led Smethport (1-10) with 12 points, while Owen Rounsville added seven.
ELK COUNTY CATHOLIC 52, RIDGWAY 28
ST. MARYS, Pa. – Behind 20 points from Wil Wortman, Elk County Catholic pulled away from Ridgway for a 52-28 win in the opening round of the Elk County Holiday Tournament at St. Marys.
Wortman scored eight of his points in the third quarter when the Crusaders outscored the Elkers 17-11 to expand a 25-15 halftime lead to 42-26.
Jordan Wasko added 10 points for ECC, while Lance O’Neill chipped in with nine tallies.
Alex Merritt had a team-high 14 points for Ridgway.
ECC will face Johnsonburg in Friday’s title game, while Ridgway will take on St. Marys in the consolation contest.
JOHNSONBURG 55, ST. MARYS 41
ST. MARYS, Pa. – Building a 10-point halftime lead, Johnsonburg knocked off St. Marys, 55-41, in the opening round of the Elk County Holiday Tournament at St. Marys High School.
The Rams led 28-18 at halftime and then rode the second-half play of Isaiah Jackson to the victory.
Jackson scored 17 of his game-high 25 points in the second half.
Eli Perez added eight tallies for Johnsonburg, while Cade Peterson chipped in seven points.
Ben Paul paced St. Marys with 13 points with Anthony Nedzinski adding 10.
Johnsonburg will face Elk County Catholic in Friday’s title game, while St. Marys battles Ridgway in the consolation contest.
REDBANK VALLEY 75, MERCER 59
MERCER, Pa. – Redbank Valley had five players score in double figures as the Bulldogs topped Mercer, 75-59, in the Mercer Christmas Classic.
Owen Clouse led the way with 19 points. Ty Carrier had 14 points, while Mason Clouse and Braylon Wagner each had 12 points, and Kieran Fricko had 10 points.
Daemyin Mattocks led the Mustangs with 15 points, and Cole Cunningham added 13 points.
EISENHOWER 54, CLYMER (N.Y.) 37
CORRY, Pa. – Trailing 20-18 at halftime, Eisenhower outscored Clymer (N.Y.) 36-17 in the second half to win their opening-round game in the Corry Christmas Tournament.
Gavin Lindemuth scored 14 points to lead the Knights (7-1) to their seventh win in a row.
Kris Bunk and Austin Hanson were also in double figures for Eisenhower with 12 and 10 points, respectively.
Kaden Beckerink led Clymer (N.Y.) with 17 points.
Eisenhower will meet Corry for the tournament title on Friday.
GREENVILLE 71, WESTINGHOUSE 49
NEW CASTLE, Pa. – Noah Philson and Mason Vannoy combined for 40 points as Greenville beat Westinghouse, 71-49 in the consolation game of the Neshannock Christmas Tournament.
Greenville (6-4) jumped out to a 27-13 lead after the first quarter and never looked back.
Philson finished with 23 points, while Vannoy had 17 and Ryan Redfoot nine.
Terrell Wofford had 17 points and Jaylen Stanford 16 for Westinghouse.
MCDOWELL 76, GENERAL MCLANE 45
ERIE, Pa. – Tyler Grove poured in 30 points as McDowell powered past General McLane, 76-45.
McDowell (6-1) led 40-20 at halftime, as Kamden Kramer had 14 points for the Trojans.
Jacob Zietz had 11 points for GM (7-2).
CLEARFIELD 56, CURWENSVILLE 43
CURWENSVILLE, Pa. – A career-high 25 points from Braison Patrick helped Clearfield secure its first win of the season, 56-43, at Curwensville.
Patrick added five rebounds.
Parker Collins chipped in 11 points, seven rebounds, and five assists for Nate Glunt’s Bison, while Evett Maines added 10 points. Braylen Way snagged six rebounds and scored four tallies in the victory.
Davis Fleming continued his strong play for Curwensville with 21 points, including nine in the fourth quarter, while Parker Wood added 11 points.
CORRY 58, NORTHWESTERN 21
CORRY, Pa. – Rylan Smith scored 20 points as Corry powered past Northwestern, 58-21 in the Corry Christmas Tournament.
Corry (6-2) led 38-3 at halftime.
Kamdyn Moon and Karson Chamberlain had eight points each for the Beavers.
Kaleb Glasl had nine points for Northwestern.
HAMPTON 51, GROVE CITY 34
ALLISON PARK, Pa. – With the game tied at 28 in the third quarter, Hampton went on a 19-0 run that lasted well into the fourth quarter of a 51-34 win over Grove City in the Hampton Christmas Tournament title game.
Liam Mignogna led a balanced Hampton effort with 15 points while Alex Niles had 14 and Rober Coll 13.
The Eagles (3-6) did manage to hold Lehigh commit Peter Kramer to just three points.
Brett Loughy had 12 points and Nathan Greer eight for Grove City.
IROQUOIS 55, UNION CITY 22
ERIE, Pa. – Colton Carpenter led a balanced Iroquois effort with 12 points in a 55-22 win over Union City in the Iroquois Christmas Tournament.
Cajohn Howard was also in double figures for Iroquois (5-3) with 10 points.
Connor Wingard had 15 points for Union City (1-7).
NORTH EAST 48, LAKEVIEW 34
ERIE, Pa. – Carter Crozier scored 14 points as North East earned a 48-34 win over Lakeview in the Iroquois Christmas Tournament.
Fenton Shunk was also in double figures for North East (4-4) with 12 points.
Lucas Fagley had 13 points for Lakeview (5-4).
ELLWOOD CITY 62, MAPLEWOOD 22
MERCER, Pa. – Colten Crizer led a balanced Ellwood City effort with 13 points in a 62-22 win over Maplewood.
Joe Roth and Ryan Widmaier had 12 points each in the win for Ellwood City.
Kyle Jordan had eight points for Maplewood (0-9).
WARREN HARDING (OHIO) 76, ERIE FIRST CHRISTIAN 37
SHARON, Pa. – Warren Harding (Ohio) led 24-0 after the first quarter on its way to a 76-37 win over Erie First Christian.
Chaz Coleman scored 22 points to lead Warren Harding.
Avery Collins had 14 points for Erie First Christian (2-5).
HOPEWELL 64, WILMINGTON 24
NEW CASTLE, Pa. – Zach Kovell scored 15 points to lead Hopewell to a 64-24 win over Wilmington in the Laurel Christmas Tournament.
Aaron Dickhard and Zach Gigliotti had 11 points each for the Vikings in the win.
Pierce Nagel scored nine points to pace Wilmington (0-7).
NEW CASTLE 62, CLARION-LIMESTONE 41
NEW CASTLE, Pa. – Damian Harrison scored 19 points to lead a trio of New Castle players with 15 or more points in a 62-41 win over visiting Clarion-Limestone.
Ralph Blundo added 17 points for the Hurricanes, while Kyrell Harris chipped in 15 points.
Jack Craig paced C-L with 15 points, Jack Callen added 10 tallies, and Jase Ferguson scored eight points.
PORTVILLE (N.Y.) 64, COUDERSPORT 43
COUDERSPORT, Pa. – Aidan DeFazio netted a game-high 23 points to help Portville (N.Y.) pick up a 64-43 win at Coudersport.
Mason Roessner scored 14 points and Micah Batson added 13 for Coudersport.
