STRATTANVILLE, Pa.— Letting a 16-point lead nearly slip away, the Clarion-Limestone boys basketball hung on for a 43-40 victory over Johnsonburg when a Rams’ 3-point attempt at the buzzer fell short on Thursday night.
C-L (6-1) led 37-21 with 4:09 to play in the third quarter when Johnsonburg called a timeout. From there the Rams would go on a 12-0 run to close to within four (37-33) at the seven-minute mark of the fourth quarter.
With the Lions still maintaining a four-point 41-37 lead, Jordan Hesdon knocked down a pair of free throws to push the lead to six at 43-37 with 1:23 to play. Jake Lobaugh would connect on his third 3-pointer of the game to close to within 43-40 with a minute to play. Hesdon would miss the front end of a one and one and Johnsonburg would gain the rebound and control the ball down to 19 seconds remaining before calling a timeout. Following the timeout, the Rams ran the clock down until their 3-point shot at the buzzer fell short, giving C-L the victory.
“First of all, I have to give Johnsonburg all the credit in the world,” said C-L head coach Joe Ferguson. “They play a very methodical offense, and they play a solid defensive game.”
Hesdon led C-L with 15 points while pulling down seven rebounds. Tommy Smith added 11 points while handing out five assists. Riley Klingensmith chipped in with seven points while Jase Ferguson and Jack Callen each scoring four points while Ferguson pulled down seven rebounds and Callen grabbing six boards.
“I have the utmost confidence in our eight-man rotation,” said Joe Ferguson. “I can have any combination of those eight on the floor and be confident in their abilities out there. Just because a certain group is out there in one game doesn’t mean that a different group of those eight might be out there in another game. They are all unselfish and they all feed off of each other.”
Johnsonburg would jump out to a 7-2 run before the Lions would tie the game 10-10 after one quarter.
The Lions would hold a 14-8 scoring edge in the second quarter to take a 24-18 halftime lead.
C-L would begin the third quarter on a 13-3 run to push their lead to the 37-21 score prompting the Rams to take the timeout which set their run in motion.
“During that run we got away from our offense a bit and we turned the ball over a few times and Johnsonburg was able to turn those into points,” said Ferguson. “Jordan Hesdon was in foul trouble and we had Jase Ferguson who played the game sick. At the end of the day, it was nice to be able to come away with the win and I’m proud of the guys.”
Isaiah Jackson led Johnsonburg with 13 points and 11 rebounds. Lobaugh added 11 points including three baskets from beyond the three-point line.
UNION 81, TITUSVILLE 51
Zander Laughlin poured in 33 points and Dawson Camper added 15 points and 20 rebounds for the Golden Knights.
Payton Johnston also scored 23 points for Union, which outscored the Rockets 42-24 in the second half.
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Jenna Kasmierski scored 18 points and Kristen Ellenberger pitched in 15 to lead Ridgway to a 54-22 win over Union.
Gabby Omocher added 10 for Ridgway.
Hailey Theuret paced Union with seven points.
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