CLARION, Pa. (D9Sports) – Zane Puhala scored a career-high 20 points including 18 in the first three quarters to propel Brockway into the PIAA tournament with a 60-53 with over Clarion Friday night in the District 9 Class 2A consolation game at Clarion University’ Tippin Gym.
(Photo of Clarion’s Cam Craig. Photo by Jared Bakaysa of JB Graphics. See more of Bakaysa’s work here)
“Zane is one of those guys who plays hard all the time,” Brockway head coach Rick Clark said. “We can count on that effort night in and night out.”
Relisten to the game.
The Rovers found themselves to be a little bit better in each quarter to advance.
Brockway only trailed once in the game at 10-8 before taking the lead at the end of the first quarter thanks to six points Noah Vokes.
Despite not hitting a single trey in the first half Brockway held a slim lead 25-23 with Puhala and Vokes combining to score 19 points.
Puhala, the Hager Paving Player of the Game, shared his thoughts on the win.
Puhala scored nine third-quarter points along with two 3-pointers, one from Carter Adams and another from Anthony Esposito, that helped Brockway extended an ever slim lead to 40-34.
“He can get to the hoop, and when he finishes like he did tonight that’s great for us,” Clark saidof Puhala. “It takes the pressure off the other guys and allows them to open it up.”
Brockway needed that to keep pace with Clarion’s Cam Craig who scored a game-high 22 points including four treys. Craig finished his great Clarion career with 1,138 career points.
“He had 22, and there is nothing else he could have done,” said Clarion head coach Jess Quinn.
Clarion was able to cut the lead to four with seven minutes remaining as the Bobcats forced consecutive Rover’s turnovers and back-to-back buckets from Calvin German and Austin Hummell cut the deficit to 43-39
But that was all the closer the Bobcats were able to get as clutch transition buckets from Brockway combined with poor fouling shooting ended Clarion’s season.
“When they got rebounds they pushed the floor and had success,” Quinn said. “Usually we’re pretty good at that. Tonight the got us with the transition and made us pay for it.”
Alec Freemer came off the bench and scored double-figures for the Rovers with 10 including eight in the fourth quarter. His clutch 3-point play following Clarion’s run to close within three as well as his next trey gave Brockway a 49-41 lead midway through the third quarter.
Clarion shot itself in the foot while it was trying to get back in the game shooting just 1 of 8 from the foul line and 1 of 6 in the fourth quarter. The Bobcats were 0 of 3 on old-school 3-point play attempts.
“The free-throw shooting was the tale of the tape,” Quinn said. “When you get into the playoffs those are huge for teams, and tonight we couldn’t come up with the free throws.”
Clarion was playing without Spencer Miller who was on a pre-planned trip to Florida.
“We went 15-3 with him on the court, and we missed him tonight,” said Quinn. “Family always comes first, and I told him to have a great trip. I just hoped we were still playing when he got back.”
The Bobcats end their season at 17-8.
“Starting off the season the way we did at 0-3, I’m proud of every one of them the way we finished the season,” Quinn said. “We went deep tonight, Skylar Rhoades came off the bench and gave us energy and a couple of points. Cam Craig showed unbelievable leadership out there, Jake Burns and Archer Mills have done a great job all season for us. Austin Hummell and the job he’s done rebounding and I’m so proud of the effort the gave.
“I’m sad to see this season end, but I knew it would at some point. I’m very proud of my players.”
Brockway (13-13) will advance into the PIAA playoffs against District 6 Champion Bishop Guilfoyle Saturday, March 10 at a site and time to be announced Sunday.
“Our goal all season was to get to the district championship, but we fell a little short against Coudersport Tuesday night,” Clark said. “Getting to the district final automatically qualifies you for states. After Tuesday night we said now it’s time for the seniors and everybody to step up and extend their careers. It was a job well done tonight, and it is a huge accomplishment to get to the state tournament.”
BROCKWAY 60, CLARION 53
Score by Quarters
Brockway — 13 12 15 20 — 60
Clarion — 12 11 11 19 — 53
BROCKWAY — 60
Zane Puhala 6 8-9 20, Josh Salada 0 0-0 0, Noah Vokes 6 0-0 12, Anthony Esposito 1 0-0 3, Carter Adams 4 2-5 11, Alec Freemer 3 3-4 10, Jon Wood 0 4-4 4, JD Wood 0 0-0 0. Totals 20 14-21 60.
CLARION — 53
Zak Bauer 0 0-0 0, Austin Hummell 5 1-4 11, Cam Craig 9 0-3 22, Archer Mills 0 0-0 0, Nick Frederick 0 0-0 0, Calvin German 5 0-1 12, Josh Craig 1 0-0 2, Skylar rhoades 2 0-0 4, Drew Whren 0 0-0 0, Gavin Brinkley 0 0-0 0, Jake Burns 1 0-0 2. Totals 23 1-8 53.
Three-pointers: Brockway 3 (Adams, Freemer, Esposito). Clarion 5 (Cam Craig 4, German).
