STRATTANVILLE, Pa. (D9Sports) — A 17-0 first-half run helped lift Clarion-Limestone to a 71-62 win over crosstown rival Clarion in the KSAC North opener for both teams Wednesday night at C-L.
(Photo of Curvin Goheen of C-L, the Hager Paving Player of the Game)
Relisten to the game:
“Anytime you have a rivalry game, it’s always nice to win,” Curvin Goheen, who was named the Hager Paving Player of the Game after collecting a double-double of 13 points and 16 rebounds, said. “Especially with such a great program like them and as good of a team they have, it’s nice to get a win.”
Watch the entire interview with Goheen.
The Lions (2-1 overall, 1-0 KSAC North) trailed 11-8 in the early going after a pair of TiJon Faulk-Taylor 3-pointers helped Clarion (0-3, 0-1) to a fast start.
But Deion Deas, who scored a game-high 22 points, got hot from the outside hitting four first-half 3-pointers to fuel the C-L run that put the Lions ahead 25-11 with 5:50 left in the first half.
The Lions lead grew to 16, 36-20, by halftime before Clarion stabilized some in the second half.
Thanks to some hot outside shooting that saw Clarion hit four third-quarter 3-pointers, the Bobcats closed within 10 a couple of times in the third quarter including 38-28 following back-to-back threes from Josh Craig and Cal German and a two from Josh Craig that finished off an 8-0 spurt and again at 44-34.
But both times C-L answered with back-to-back hoops. The first response came from two straight Deas buckets and the second response came from two consecutive hoops from Drew Beichner. That helped the Lions continue to hold a 14-point, 52-38, lead at the end of three quarters.
“I called timeout (when it was 38-28),” C-L head coach Joe Ferguson said. “I told them they couldn’t let the crowd get back in the game. If that happens, emotions start to take over.”
C-L’s lead grew to 17 points a couple of times in the fourth quarter including at 65-48 before a 12-2 Clarion run made things interesting near the end.
Hunter Craddock made one of two free throws to get the Bobcats back within 10, 67-57, with 1:18 to play, and then German nailed a 3-pointer with just under a minute left to make it 67-60.
But C-L was able to hold off the comeback attempt and secure the win.
The Lions role players were really the story in the victory, as Goheen, Julian Laugand, Ayden Wiles, Kaden Park, Mitch Knepp and Drew Beichner combined for 39 points in the victory led by 13 each from Laugand and Goheen.
“That was critical,” Ferguson said. “Our role players really contributed. It says a lot about the team.”
Goheen’s efforts on the boards also helped C-L out rebound Clarion 50-40.
“Rebounding is the one thing we stress,” Goheen said. “We stress to get boards and understand what the coach tells me to do.”
Both teams needed contributions from role players because both teams had stars in early foul trouble.
For C-L, Hayden Callen was saddled with three first-half fouls, while for Clarion, German, the Bobcats leading scorer, was also whistled for three fouls in the opening half.
Ferguson was especially pleased that his team was able to overcome not having one of its leaders on the court.
“We don’t know how to play with those guys (on the court) yet let alone without them,” Ferguson said. “I knew we were going to need contributions from other people.”
Despite the foul trouble, German, who didn’t make a basket until the second half, still ended up tying Craig for the team-lead with 13 points for Clarion. Nick Frederick added 10.
C-L returns to action Friday at Forest Area at East Forest while Clarion hosts Venango Catholic Friday.
CLARION-LIMESTONE 71, CLARION 62
Score by Quarter
Clarion 11 9 18 24 — 62
C-L 16 20 16 19 — 71
CLARION — 62
TiJon Faulk-Taylor 2 0-0 6, Drew Wrhen 0 0-0 0, Archer Mills 2 0-0 4, Hunter Craddock 3 1-2 7, Josh Craig 5 0-0 13, Ethan Burford 2 0-0 5, Cal German 5 0-0 13, Gavin Brinkley 1 2-4 4, Clay McElravy 0 0-0 0, Nick Frederick 4 2-4 10. Totals 24 5-10 62.
CLARION-LIMESTONE — 71
Deion Deas 9 0-2 22, Julian Laugand 4 5-7 13, Ayden Wiles 1 1-4 3, Curvin Goheen 6 1-3 13, Kaden Park 2 0-0 4, Hayden Callen 4 1-2 10, Mitch Knepp 1 0-2 2, Drew Beichner 2 0-0 4. Totals 29 8-20 71.
Three-pointers: Clarion 9 (Craig 3, German 3, Faulk-Taylor 2, Burford). C-L 5 (Deas 4, Callen)
