Relisten to the game:

When North Clarion lost to Brookville in the Brookville Tip-off Tournament championship game in 2018, the players couldn’t wait to get another chance at the Lady Raiders.

Fast forward one year, and the She-Wolves made the most of that opportunity dominating the final three quarters in a 54-33 win over Brookville in the 2019 championship game of the Brookville Tip-off Tournament.

“The girls wanted this game since they lost last year,” North Clarion head coach Terry Dreihaup said. “We knew this would be a tough game, one of our toughest of the season.”

While the win was nice, it was only the first of many goals the She-Wolves (2-0) have in mind for this season including winning a fifth straight KSAC North title, taking home a third KSAC title and a fourth District 9 Class 1A title while also hoping to make a run in the PIAA playoffs.

“It was a stepping stone,” Dreihaup said of the victory.

After falling behind 13-7 late in the first quarter, North Clarion owned the rest of the game outscoring Brookville 19-2 to end the half and then topping the Lady Raiders 28-18 after halftime including 19-10 in the third quarter.

“I think there were a little bit of nerves at first,” Dreihaup said. “Then they settled down and played their game and played good.”

Abby Gatesman had a monster game for the She-Wolves collecting 20 points, 15 rebounds, nine assists and five steals while also blocking perhaps as many as a half dozen shots. She was named the Tournament MVP and the Hager Paving Player of the Game.

“She was there from the tip,” Dreihaup said. “She took care of the ball. She ran the ball, she made some great passes and she took the ball to the hoop. She just played super.”

Abby Gatesman

It was Gatesman’s 3-pointer late in the first quarter that got things rolling for North Clarion, as the shot closed the Brookville lead to 13-10. Then, as time ran out in the quarter, Gatesman collected the rebound of her own missed shot and put it make it to get the She-Wolves within a point going to the second quarter.

The second eight minutes belonged to North Clarion, as the She-Wolves got scoring from five different players while holding Brookville, which returned four starters from last year’s District 9 Class 3A championship team, without a field goal in the quarter.

“We just wanted to come and play great defense and hold their scorers down,” Dreihaup said. “Defense wins games.”

Any thought of a Brookville comeback was thwarted early in the second half when North Clarion’s play forced Brookville head coach Mark Powell to take two time outs in the first three minutes of the second half. After the second one, Powell put in his second string hoping for a spark that never really materialized as the She-Wolves pushed the lead to 20 points in the quarter.

“I think our depth was a definite advantage,” Dreihaip said. “We could just keep seven people in and out of the game. We full-court pressed for probably 28 or 29 minutes of the game. You can’t do that with just five people.”

North Clarion also took advantage of secondary scoring.

While Gatesman and Mackenzie Bauer, who had 10 points, combined for 30 points, North Clarion also got nine points from Haley Sherman, seven from Gabby Schmader and four points each from Amya Green and Trinity Thompson with Thompson also playing great defense.

“I think with this team over the years, it’s come to play that if one of them scores and another one needs to step up, that’s exactly what they’re going to do,” Dreihaup said. “Tonight was just a great example of that.”

Brookville got a double-double from Marcy Schindler, who had 10 points and 11 rebounds, but after scoring two quick baskets to start the game Schindler didn’t find another bucket until the fourth quarter.

Morgan Johnson led the Lady Raiders (1-1) with 12 points, nine of them going in the first quarter, while Madison Johnson had seven points.

North Clarion returns to action Tuesday when it opens KSAC play against Forest Area at home.

Brookville is back in action Wednesday when it hosts St. Joseph’s Catholic Academy out of Boalsburg.

NORTH CLARION 54, BROOKVILLE 33

Score by Quarters

North Clarion 12 14 19 9 — 54
Brookville 13 2 10 8 — 33

NORTH CLARION — 54

Mackenzie Bauer 4 2-4 10, Addison Shaftic 0 0-0 0, Amya Green 1 1-2 4, Gabby Schmader 3 0-0 7, Gabby DiDolce 0 0-0 0, Claire Kriebel 0 0-0 0, Gwen Seigel 0 0-0 0, Abby Gatesman 7 5-7 20, Trinity Thompson 1 2-2 4, Haley Sherman 3 3-4 9, Emily Aites 0 0-0 0. Totals 19 13-19 54.

BROOKVILLE — 33

Elizabeth Wonderling 0 1-2 1, Alayna Haight 0 0-0 0, Brooke Ganoe 0 0-0 0, Leah Kamerdeiner 0 0-2 0, Marcy Schindler 4 2-4 10, Morgan Johnson 3 4-4 12, Madison Johnson 3 1-3 7, Lauren Hergert 0 1-3 1, Elisa Molnar 0 0-0 0, Jordan Cook 0 2-8 2. Totals 10 11-26 33.

Three-pointer: North Clarion 3 (Green, Schamder Gatesman). Brookville 2 (Morgan Johnson 2).

CLARION-LIMESTONE 40, CLEARFIELD 37

BROOKVILLE, Pa. — Clarion-Limestone claimed third place at the Brookville Tip-off Tournament with a 40-37 win over Clearfield Saturday afternoon.

Kendall Dunn came off the bench to score 13 points for the Lady Lions while all-tournament selection Janelle Pezzuti finished with 10 points. Frances Milliron had nine points and nine rebounds.

C-L trailed 30-21 with just under three minutes to go in the third quarter before climbing back into the game. Milliron gave the Lady Lions the lead for good at 37-35 with 2:26 left in the game.

Megan Durandetta scored 12 of her team-high 16 points in the first half for Clearfield. Emma Hipps scored 10 points while Tesa Miller added five points and 16 rebounds.