Clearfield, Punxsutawney Move into District 9 Class 4A Boys’ Title Game

CLEARFIELD, Pa. – Evan Brown netted six first-quarter points to help Clearfield to a quick start on its way to a 59-35 win over visiting Bradford in the District 9 Class 4A semifinals.

(Cover photo of Clearfield’s Evan Brown)

See additional District 9 playoff scores and recaps from Feb. 22

The Bison (22-1) led 11-2 at the end of the first quarter and had the lead to 19, 31-12, by halftime.

Brown finished with a game-high 20 points, tying a season high for the senior, to go with six steals, four rebounds and three assists.

Tommy Hazel chipped in 17 points, six rebounds, two assists and two steals for Clearfield with Will Myers grabbing a game-high 10 rebounds to go with seven points and two blocks.

Nate Higbie paced Bradford with 11 points and three steals. Adam Boyer had a team-high six rebounds while scoring a pair of points. Donny Pattison chipped in six points as did Steve Knowlton, who had a pair of assists as well with Danny Manion adding five points and five rebounds.

Bradford shot just 21.1 percent (11 of 52) compared to 45.3 percent (24 of 53) for Clearfield.

The Bison will take on Punxsutawney in the District 9 Class 4A title game at a site, time and date to be determined.

CLEARFIELD 59, BRADFORD 35

Score by Quarters

Bradford 2 10 13 10 – 35
Clearfield 11 20 14 14 – 59

BRADFORD – 35

Payton Manion 0 0-0 0, Adam Boyer 1 0-0 2, Donny Pattison 3 0-0 6, Nate Blauser 0 0-1 0, Steven Knowlton 1 2-2 6, Tyler Gigliotti 2 0-0 5, Deondre Terwilliger 0 0-0 0, Nate Higbie 3 3-4 11, Caleb Nuzzo 0 0-0 0, Cade Hayden 0 0-0 0, Danny Manion 1 3-6 5, Dalton Fiero 0 0-0 0. Totals 11 8-13 35.

CLEARFIELD – 59

Evan Brown 9 2-2 20, Reese Wilson 1 0-0 2, Dave McKenzie 0 0-0 0, Tommy Hazel 7 2-2 17, Will Myers 2 2-2 7, Ethan McGinnis 3 0-0 6, Jon Gates 1 2-2 5, Ryan Chew 0 0-0 0, Taye Lynch 0 0-0 0, Ryan Lazauskas 0 0-0 0, Keagan Hess 0 0-0 0, Wyatt Porter 0 0-0 0, Jarrit Wagner 1 0-0 2, Cade Walker 0 0-0 0, Bill Kline. Totals 24 8-8 59.

Three-pointers: Bradford 3 (Higbie 2, Gigliotti). Clearfield 3 (Hazel, Myers, Gates)

PUNXSUTAWNEY 77, ST. MARYS 57

PUNXSUTAWNEY, Pa. – Punxsutawney used a 6-0 run at the end of the first half to take a six-point halftime lead and then outscored visiting St. Marys by 14 in the second half to advance to the District 9 Class 4A title game with a 77-57 win.

The teams were tied at 26 with two minutes to go in the opening half before the Chucks ended the half with six straight points to take a 32-26 halftime lead.

Punxsy (15-8) then outscored the Dutch 26-7 in the third quarter with Ethan Riley scoring eight points and Devin Kelly six.

Kelly finished with a game-high 21 points and was one of five Chucks in double digits.

Riley chipped in 13 points with Brandon Matthews adding 12, Ethan Blose 11 and Jacob Horner 10.

Jeff Wehler led St. Marys (13-10) with 15 points with Nathan Schneider adding 13 and Matt Marconi 12.

Punxsy plays Clearfield in the District 9 title game at a site, time and date to be determined.

PUNXSUTAWNEY 77, ST. MARYS 57

Score by Quarters

St. Marys 13 13 7 24 – 57
Punxsy 19 13 26 19 – 77

ST. MARYS – 57

Anthony Cortina 0 0-0 0, Austin Goodrow 0 0-0 0, Jackson Lindemuth 2 1-2 7, Nathan Schneider 5 2-3 13, Ryan Sennett 0 0-0 0, Tyler Robinson 0 0-0 0, Jeff Wehler 6 0-2 15, Caleb Barackman 0 0-0 0, Matt Marconi 5 1-1 12, Parker Smith 2 0-0 4, Aaron Fox 3 0-0 6, Isaac Caretti 0 0-0 0. Totals 23 4-8 57.

PUNXSUTAWNEY – 77

Jacob Weaver 1 0-0 2, Jacob Horner 2 6-9 10, Devin Kelly 9 3-6 21, Ethan Riley 5 0-0 13, Brandon Matthews 4 4-5 12, Ethan Blose 4 0-0 11, Tyler Richardson 1 4-4 6, Kevin Constant 1 0-0 2, Tyler Getch 0 0-0 0, Tanner Zimmerman 0 0-0 0, Isaac Stouffer 0 0-0 0, Matt Wehrle 0 0-0 0, Willie Hoover 0 0-0 0, Mack Hanley 0 0-0 0. Totals 27 17-24 77.

Three-pointers: St. Marys 7 (Wehler 3, Lindemuth 2, Schneider, Marconi). Punxsutawney 6 (Riley 3, Blose 3)

13 13 7 24
19 13 26 19
Punxsy used 6-0 run at end of first half to take a 32-26 halftime lead and then outscored