CENTRE COUNTY — Friday’s bad weather caused a number of boys’ basketball cancellations, and Christmas this week will result in a very light scholastic schedule.
Nevertheless, here’s a look at what’s happening with our local boys’ teams:
State College rebounds at Carlisle
State College Little Lions traveled to Carlisle on Friday night and were able to hold on for a tight, 52-48 victory over the Thundering Herd.
The Lions, ahead by 10 points going into the last quarter, were able to weather a last-ditch rally by Carlisle that saw the Herd pull to within three points coming down the stretch.
Sophomores Nick Carr and Chase Rhoades led SC with 11 points each, while Micah James cleared 12 rebounds in the win.
The win put the Lions’ overall record at 4-2, 3-1 in the Mid-Penn Commonwealth, with games on tap in the upcoming Holiday Tournament beginning Dec. 29.
State College’s win at Carlisle came after a cold first half against CD East cost the Lions in a close loss, 51-48.
East took a 25-22 lead at halftime and was able to hold on throughout the second half.
Micah James scored 17 points for SC and Carr added 11 in what was the team’s first conference loss.
The next conference game will be at home on Jan. 2 against Chambersburg.
St. Joe’s breaks three-game losing streak
St. Joseph’s Academy boys’ basketball team jumped out to a commanding 14-point lead after just one period at Newport on Thursday night and never let up in an important 66-53 win.
The WolfPack came into the game on a three-game losing streak and was badly in need of a positive outing.
And the 24 points they put up in the first eight minutes against the Buffaloes was just what they needed.
By halftime the score was 42-26 and the ‘Pack was on their way to win No. 3 for the season.
Zach Cadman poured in 30 points for SJCA, a total that included seven 3-pointers.
Chase Luckovich added 11 in the game, while Ethan Bowen and Isaiah Crispin each scored 10.
Cadman also had eight rebounds and two steals on the night.
SJCA will next play in the State College Holiday Tournament on Dec. 29 and 30. The team will open against Lower Merion on the 29th at 2:30 p.m.
Bald Eagle loses to Moshannon Valley
The Bald Eagle Area boys’ basketball team took its first win of the season with a win over Bellefonte on Dec. 15, but the Eagles could not keep the momentum going the next night at Moshannon Valley.
The Black Knights used their size and inside game to carve out a 51-42 win in Houtzdale and improve their record to 3-1.
Sophomore forward Bo Washell led the Black Knights with 17 points and Troy Canner added 14 points and 10 rebounds in the win. Kaden Mills chipped in with nine points and 13 rebounds.
BEA’s James Cowan scored 12 points, Kane Wolf scored 11, and Luke Hosband had 10 in what was the team’s fifth loss.
BEA will now play in the Philipsburg-Osceola Holiday Tournament and open with Blacklick Valley on Dec. 27.
Forest Hills defeats Penns Valley
Coming off a big 85-30 win over Mount Union, Penns Valley ran into a white-hot Forest Hills team on Dec. 19 at home in the Ram Dome.
Forest Hills wasted little time in running up 56 points in the first half, 27 in the first quarter and then 29 in the second, that set PV back in a 56-28 deficit.
The Rams kept going — they scored 38 points in the second half — but the deficit was too high and they fell to their third loss of the season against five wins.
The Rams put four players in double figures for the night. Julian Battaglia and Fletcher Ironside each scored 19 points, while Noah Patel scored 13 and Spencer Althouse had 10.
The Rams’ LHAC Conference record is now 3-3 with conference game against Philipsburg-Osceola, Bellefonte and Tyrone coming up.
Philipsburg-Osceola falls to Marion Center
Philipsburg-Osceola Mounties never got on track against Marion Center on Dec. 18 and fell 72-42 to the Stingers.
Marion Center broke out to a 39-21 halftime lead and extended that to 61-35 by the beginning of the fourth quarter.
P-O got 21 points from Nick DeSimone, with Lucas Beish adding 6 and Mason Klinger 5.
Kamden Rozier led Marion Center with 21 points.
The loss dropped the Mounties to 2-4 overall for the season and 1-3 in the LHAC.
Philipsburg has the Holiday Tournament coming up with a starting game against West Branch on Dec. 27.
