STRATTANVILLE, Pa.— Trailing 18-11, Riley Klingensmith hit a 3-pointer with two seconds left in the first quarter to close to within 18-14, which ignited a 23-0 run that helped the Clarion-Limestone boys basketball team pull ahead 34-18 en route to a 68-34 victory over Keystone on Tuesday evening.
(Pictured above, Jase Ferguson shoots a free throw during Clarion-Limestone’s
Early on in the contest, it looked as though the Panthers were going to give the Lions everything they could handle.
Keystone was beating C-L’s press for easy baskets while also hitting the boards hard.
“We started in a matchup zone press and our guys were having trouble recognizing who they were supposed to be guarding,” said C-L head coach Joe Ferguson. “After that first quarter, we changed into more of a man-to-man press, and we were able to get some steals and Jordan (Hesdon) knocked down a pair of 3s in a row and that seemed to really get us going.”
Jase Ferguson began the second with a 3-pointer before Ty Rankin hit a short jumper to put C-L (3-1) ahead for good at 19-18. Hesdon then hit consecutive 3s that bumped the lead to 25-18.
By the time the quarter had ended, C-L put up 35 points while Keystone could only counter with six as the Lions led 49-25 at halftime.
Hesdon scored all 12 of his total points in the second quarter.
Less than two minutes into the third quarter, the Lions pushed their lead to 30 points that put the mercy rule running clock into effect for the remainder of the game. C-L outscored the Panthers 19-10 in the second half.
Klingensmith led C-L with 18 points and Jase Ferguson nearly had a triple-double with 10 points, nine steals, and eight assists.
Tommy Smith chipped in with nine points.
“Watching Keystone on film, I really thought we might have a very difficult time in this game,” said Ferguson. “I was worried how we’d come out after last night’s game, and I knew Keystone had some good shooters, so we certainly wanted to be ready for their three-point shooters.
Cole Henry paced Keystone with 18 points and 11 rebounds while Kyle Nellis added 11 points before fouling out.
C-L will host Karns City on Thursday evening.
“Things don’t get any easier for us that’s for sure with a tough game against Karns City coming up,” said Ferguson.
KARNS CITY 47, REDBANK VALLEY 42
Shane Peters scored 16 points and also had 10 rebounds and Micah Rupp added 11 points, 10 boards and three blocked shots as the Gremlins edged the Bulldogs.
Karns City led 24-15 at the half, but Redbank Valley cut that lead down to three by the end of the third quarter.
Peters scored eight of his game-high points in the fourth to help the Gremlins salt the game away.
Redbank Valley was led by Owen Clouse with eight points and Mason Clouse with seven.
MONITEAU 59, CRANBERRY 27
Aydan Jackson scored 16 points and Andrew Zepeda pitched in 11 to lead the Warriors to the win.
Moniteau led 33-15 at the half.
Ethan Merryman scored 15 points to lead the Berries.
UNION 79, FOREST 13
Skyler Roxbury scored 19 points and Payton Johnston chipped in 10 as the Knights rolled.
Roxbury also had three steals and Johnston five assists.
Trent Fleming, Owen Bish and Christian Salizoni each added nine points for Union.
Jacon Healy led Forest in scoring with seven points.
GIRLS BASKETBALL
Catherine Kelly scored 11 points as three Moniteau players reached double digits in a 51-9 win over Cranberry.
Allie Pry and Kendall Sankey each added 10 points for the Warriors and Davina Pry added 10 rebounds.
Abbey Jewart pitched in six assists.
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