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Dec. 28, 2015 District 9 Boys’ Basketball Recaps – Austin gets first win since Dec. 2013

Anderson-Nicka-Austin-Burdick

Anderson Nicka of Austin in a file photo by Paul Burdick

AUSTIN 51, SMETHPORT 41

PORT ALLEGANY, Pa. – Anderson Nicka, Brian Shupe and Blake Burgett combined to score 40 points, as Austin ended a 51-game losing streak with a 51-41 win over Smethport in the consolation game of the Port Allegany Christmas Tournament Monday afternoon.

Shupe netted a team-high 14 points, while Nicka had 13 points and 15 rebounds and Burgett 13 points for the Panthers.

Nicka scored seven of his points in the third quarter when Austin outscored Smethport 16-8 to expand a 24-21 halftime lead into a double-digit advantage, 40-29.

Bryce Nelson led Smethport with 14 points with Caleb Lutz adding 10.

The victory was Austin’s first since a 42-38 win over Youngsville at the Sheffield Tip-off Tournament Dec. 6, 2013. It also broke a 20-game losing streak to Smethport by the Panthers who last topped the Hubbers, 56-50, at Smethport Jan. 16, 2008, in North Tier League action.

KARNS CITY 84, CLARION-LIMESTONE 76

RURAL VALLEY, Pa. – Five Karns City players scored in double digits as the Gremlins overcame a slow start to knock Clarion-Limestone from the realm of the unbeatens with an 84-76 win Monday in the opening round of the West Shamokin Holiday Tournament.

Karns City trailed 21-8 at the end of the first quarter but fought back in the second quarter outscoring the Lions, who saw their 26-game win streak vs. District 9 opponents come to an end, 24-15 to get within four, 36-32, at halftime. The Gremlins then took a 52-51 lead at the end of three quarters before outscoring C-L 32-25 in the fourth quarter thanks in part to a 15 of 18 performance as a team from the free-throw line.

Reese Barger led the Gremlins with 19 points, including seven in the final quarter. Chandler Turner added 14 points and nine rebounds scoring six of his points in the final eight minutes, while Jimmy Thompson and Noah Pollock each had 13 points and Ian McElroy 10. Pollock (7 points) and Thompson (6 points) were key to the second-quarter rally while McElroy scored eight of his points in the fourth quarter going 6 of 6 from the charity stripe in the quarter.   

The fourth-quarter free-throw shooting by Karns City was a bit of a surprise considering the Gremlins entered the quarter just 13 of 21 from the line.

Noah Rankin led C-L with 21 points. Christian Smith added 19 with his older brother, Taylor, scoring 13 and Ian Callen chipping in eight.  The Smith boys were spot on early combining for 16 first-quarter points including nine from Taylor, who scored 11 of his 13 in the first half.

C-L played its second straight game without leading scorer Dan Callen (concussion).  

BROCKWAY 62, DUBOIS CENTRAL CATHOLIC 45

DUBOIS, Pa. – Jake Wineberg netted 20 points including seven in the third quarter to lead Brockway to a 62-45 win over DuBois Central Catholic in the opening round of the DuBois Holiday Tournament Monday at DuBois High School.

Carter Adams added 13 points and Quade Lundberg 10 for the Rovers, who used a 17-11 third-quarter advantage to break open a seven-point, 30-23, game at halftime.

Christian LaParne led all scorers with 22 points for DCC including 14 in the first half. He had eight of the Cardinals 12 first-quarter tallies. Joey Varischetti chipped in 11 points.

Brockway will face DuBois in the tournament championship game Tuesday with DCC taking on Brookville in Tuesday’s consolation game.

DUBOIS 62, BROOKVILLE 49

DUBOIS, Pa. – Behind 17 points from Nick LaBrasca, DuBois took home a 62-49 win over Brookville in the opening round of the DuBois Holiday Tournament Monday night.

Dante Dawson added 10 points, Zach Sloan nine and Kenny Garvey eight for the well-balanced Beavers, who also got a D9 League victory with the win.

Kurt Schindler led Brookville, which scored more points in the fourth quarter, 25, than in the first three combined, 24, with 16 points including nine in the second quarter. Jimmy Moore added 12 tallies with nine coming in the final eight minutes.

DuBois will take on Brockway in Tuesday’s title game with Brookville facing DuBois Central Catholic in Tuesday’s consolation game.

PORT ALLEGANY 39, GALETON 27

PORT ALLEGANY, Pa. – Brandon McCaslin and Tre Garzel led Port Allegany to the championship of its Christmas Tournament with a 39-27 win over Galeton Monday night.

McCaslin netted a team-best 12 points to go with five steals, while Garzel turned in another double-double with 10 points and 19 rebounds.

JAMESTOWN (NY) 41, BRADFORD 31

OLEAN, N.Y. – James Rojes scored 18 points to lead Jamestown (N.Y.) to a 41-31 win over Bradford in the consolation game of the IAABO Tournament’s Large School Division Monday afternoon at St. Bonaventure University.

Andy Pantuso led Bradford with 10 points. Tyler Nuzzo added six points and nine rebounds.

OIL CITY 80, VENANGO CATHOLIC 34

OIL CITY, Pa. – Tyler Lukasiak hit nine 3-pointers on his way to 31 points to lead Oil City to an 80-34 win over visiting Venango Catholic in the opening round of the Oil City Holiday Tournament.

Lukasiak scored 13 points in the first quarter alone hitting three triples in the opening eight minutes helping the Oilers to a 24-6 lead at the end of one.

Morgan Hadley added 19 points for Oil City with Jackson McFall scoring 10.

Brady Kingston and Noah Puleo combined to score 31 of Venango Catholic’s 34 points with Kingston leading the way with 20 tallies and Puleo adding 11.

Oil City will meet Rocky Grove in Tuesday’s tournament title game with Venango Catholic taking on VisionQuest in the consolation game Tuesday.