By Jeff Richards

BOYS BASKETBALL
McConnellsburg 75, Fannett-Metal 21.  The Spartans hosted the Fannett-Metal Tigers on Friday, January 31^st for their second conference game this season and easily secured their 16th consecutive win.  The first conference game on January 15 at Fannett-Metal ended with a trouncing by the Spartans scoring 90 to 31.  This game was similar with the Spartans scoring 50 or more points in the first half, and for the second half invoking the mercy rule and continuous clock with the Spartans cruising to the victory.

In the first quarter, the Spartans ran up 25 points with stifling defense and held the Tigers to just two points.  The quarter ended 25-2 with the Spartans in complete command.  In the second quarter the Spartans posted 27 points, held the Tigers to three points, and put the game out of reach, leading 52-5.

Starting the second half the mercy rule was in effect with a running clock.  Coach Lowery subbed in more bench players and scoring slowed (Spartans’ 15 to 10) as the quarter ended Spartans ahead 67-15.  In the final quarter, the Spartans’ scored eight points to the Tigers’ six to close the night. The final score 75-21.

To compare and contrast the scoring from just two nights ago, the Tigers were coming off a high scoring affair game vs District 6 Juniata Valley Hornets carrying a 71 points per game seasonal average.  Though the Hornets won 96-84, the Tigers had a big offensive night and put four players in double figures (L. Arnold had 29 points, E. Wingert 16 points, T.  Seibert 15 points, and B. Hostler 10 points).  Tonight, the dominating Spartans’ defense and tenacity robbed the Tigers of their offensive prowess from two nights before (Arnold 2 points, Wingert 11 points, Seibert 2 points, Hostler 6 points).  The Spartans’ offensive power was on full display as they put three into double-scoring figures: Hoyt Glenn with 19 points, Brayden Ramsey with 17 points, and Dom Jefferson with 15 points. Many players met or exceeded their seasonal statistical per game averages in points, assists, steals, blocks, etc.  Galen Clevenger came off the bench and pumped in nine points.

This victory continues the Spartans (16-1 overall, 5-0 ICC South) impressive season, with just five games remaining in the regular season, including these win stats: fifteen of 10+ points, thirteen of 20+ points, ninth of 30+ points, seventh of 40+ points, and fifth of 50+ points.

Spartans’ scoring: Hoyt Glenn 7 1-2 19, Dom Jefferson 6 0-0 15, Brayden Ramsey 7 0-0 17, Shaffer Earley 2 0-0 4, Jake Hann 3 0-2 6, Galen Clevenger 3 3-4 9, Kohen Hall 1 1-2 3, Noah Jefferson 1 0-0 2, Totals 30 5-10 75.  FTM% 50.  3-point goals: 10 (Glenn 4, Jefferson 3, Ramsey 3).  Team stats:  33 rebounds, 20 assists, 25 steals, 10 blocks, 4 turnovers, team fouls 11.

Other stats: Hoyt Glenn 6 rebounds, 9 assists, 8 steals, 2 blocks; Shaffer Earley 8 rebounds, 2 steals; Brayden Ramsey 5 rebounds, 2 assists, 4 steals, 5 blocks; Dom Jefferson 3 rebounds, 4 assists, 5 steals; Jake Hann 4 rebounds, 1 assist, 2 steals, 2 blocks; Galen Clevenger 4 rebounds; Kohen Hall 1 rebound, 1 assist, 1 steal, Jace Fletcher 2 steals; Karson Washabaugh 2 rebounds, 2 assists, 1 steal; and Ethan Lang 1 rebound, 1 assist, 1 steal.

Tigers’ scoring: B. Hostler 2 0-0 6, E. Wingert 2 7-9 11, L. Arnold 1 0-0 2, T. Seibert 1 0-0 2, Totals 6 7-9 21.  FTM% 77.8%.  3-point goals: 2 (Hostler 2).

Scoring by Quarters:

Fannett-Metal         2     3  10   6  —  21
McConnellsburg  25  27  15   8  —  75
Next Up:  McConnellsburg JV/V will travel to Mount Union for cross-conference games on Monday, February 3^rd at 6 PM.
JV: no game.