CENTRE COUNTY — In local high school boys’ basketball, only State College and St. Joseph’s Catholic Academy came through with wins on Friday night, and then everyone was washed out on Monday because of the weekend snowstorm.
Things will slowly get back to normal this week with all teams back in action.
Here’s a look at what is happening:
State College 62, Carlisle 53
State College Little Lions put four players in double figures as they steadily pulled away from Carlisle in their Mid-Penn Commonwealth contest at home on Friday night.
The two teams both started on fire and finished the first quarter tied at 18-18, but the Lions defense clamped down before halftime. They held the Herd to just four points leading up to halftime and took a 30-22 lead going into the third quarter.
SC extended its lead after halftime to 11 points to 46-35 before closing the game out with 16 points in the final eight minutes.
Micah James led SC with 19 points, and Chase Rhoades scored 13 in the win. Michael Powell and Spencer Neilson were also in double figures with 12 and 11 points respectively, while Rhoades handed out 7 assists and Parker Thurley grabbed 6 rebounds.
The win was the Lions’ 10th overall against 7 losses and put their Mid-Penn record at 7-4 (third place).
The team was scheduled to play at Chambersburg on Monday night, but that game will be rescheduled. As it is, the team’s next scheduled game will be tonight at home against 11-6 Cumberland Valley and then at 16-2 Central York on Monday, Feb. 2.
St. Joe’s 65, Juniata 51
The St. Joseph’s Catholic Academy boys’ basketball team used a big third quarter to overcome Juniata, 65-51, in a conference matchup on Friday night in Boalsburg.
The WolfPack came out of the locker room at halftime down a point, 28-27, but then went on a 23-point spree in the third quarter to take a 50-42 lead.
The ‘Pack kept going after that with another 15 points down the stretch that closed out the team’s 11th victory of the season against 7 losses overall and 9th in the Tri-Valley Conference.
Isaiah Crispin led the WolfPack with 30 points in the game while Chase Luckovich scored 17 and Zach Cadman had 9.
Crispin also had eight rebounds and two steals and was also a perfect 12-for-12 from the foul line. SJCA as a team was an impressive 17-for-18 from the line in the game.
The win kept the WolfPack in first place in the conference with games coming up against Newport at home and Line Mountain away.
Presently, Saint Joseph’s is ranked No. 3 in the District 6-A bracket behind No. 1 Conemaugh Valley, 15-3, and No. 2 Williamsburg, 13-3. Bishop Carroll, 9-7, and Harmony, 9-6, are at No. 4 and No. 5.
Bald Eagle Area 52, Central Cambria 38
The Bald Eagle Area boys’ basketball team played Central Cambria tough on Saturday at home, but the Eagles faded in the second half and fell, 52-38.
The score was tied at halftime 17-17 with both defenses putting in strong efforts, but CC had another gear in the second half, and the Red Devils pulled away for the victory.
Kane Wolf scored nine points for BEA in the game, Luke Hosband had eight and Jackson Millward scored seven.
The night before, at home against Huntingdon, BEA fell behind early to the 10-7 Bearcats and could not recover in a 68-40 loss.
Huntingdon sprinted out to a 24-11 lead after one quarter, extended that to 47-20 by halftime and then closed the game out from there.
Elliott Guisler scored 26 points for HHS as the Bearcats took their 10th win overall and 6th in the LHAC.
BEA was again led by Wolf, who scored 11 points while Wade Habovick followed with 9.
The losses put BEA at 3-12 for the season with games at P-O and at home against Penn Cambria coming up.
Bishop Guilfoyle 66, Penns Valley 41
The Penns Valley Rams started ice cold at home against Bishop Guilfoyle and paid for it in a 66-41 loss to the Marauders.
The Rams managed just five points in the first eight minutes of the game and immediately fell behind by 11 points.
BG kept going, building leads of 32-18 and 59-32 before wrapping up its 11th win of the season against three losses. Penns Valley fell to 10-6.
Noah Patel and Carter Ironside were the high scorers for the Rams with 10 points each, and Fletcher Ironside scored 8 points.
Penns Valley will now stay home for three straight games against Bishop Carroll, Juniata and Hollidaysburg.
The Rams are presently ranked No. 6 in the District 6-AAA bracket behind No. 4 Penn Cambria, 12-5, and No. 5 River Valley, 14-5. Tyrone, 8-6, is No. 7 and Marion Center, 9-7, is No. 8.
Hollidaysburg 77, Philipsburg-Osceola 45
The Philipsburg-Osceola Mounties were right there early against Hollidaysburg at home on Friday night, but the Golden Tigers shifted into fifth gear in the second half.
Down by just 28-22 at the end of the second quarter, the Mounties saw Hollidaysburg pile up 27 points in the third quarter and then add another 22 down the stretch in what was ultimately a 77-45 win for the Tigers.
Led by Vince Albarano’s 25 points — and a team total of nine 3-pointers — Hollidaysburg turned it up on both sides after halftime and raced out to a comfortable 53-33 lead heading into the final eight minutes.
P-O kept playing with 23 second half points, but the Mounties could not keep up with the hot-shooting Tigers.
Center Zach Meyers scored 16 points for P-O which fell to 4-12 for the season and 2-10 in the LHAC.
Coming up for the Mounties will be home games against Bishop McCort and local rival Clearfield.
Central 56, Bellefonte 30
The Central Dragons’ defense took center stage in their 56-30 victory at Bellefonte on Friday night.
Central held the Raiders to single digits in the first three quarters while it built a solid 40-17 lead going into the final eight minutes of the game.
Bellefonte, which fell to 2-12 for the season, was led by Logan Gibson with 14 points and John Servant with 7.
The Raiders will next see Forest Hills and Bishop Guilfoyle at home on Jan. 30 and Feb. 4.
