By Jeff Richards

BOYS BASKETBALL

McConnellsburg 59, Claysburg-Kimmel 42.  On February 14 at Claysburg-Kimmel High, the McConnellsburg Spartans (ICC South champions) and Claysburg-Kimmel Bulldogs (ICC East champions) battled for the coveted 20-team league Inter-County Conference (ICC) championship.  The Spartans overcame a 12-point halftime deficit to defeat the Bulldogs and retain the ICC crown for a second consecutive year.  Adjusting their defense in the second half, they turned Spartan fan frowns right-side up as they forced turnovers and outscored the Bulldogs 39–10 to secure the championship.  The Spartans had just come off a thrilling win the day before in the ICC semi-final round, where they beat ICC-West champion Berlin Brothersvalley (57-41), and the host Bulldogs beat ICC-North champion Williamsburg.  

In the first quarter the Spartans got off to an early 10-3 start with two three-pointers from Hoyt Glenn (23.1 ppg) and Jace Fletcher.  Then Bulldogs’ Brayden Haney (20.4 ppg) made a layup+foul three-point play to make it 12-8 Spartans with a minute to go.  The Spartans scored again then Haney scored a buzzer-beating layup to close with the Spartans up 14-10.  In the second quarter, the Bulldogs poured it on and hit their peak of 22 points including two treys from Christian Treon and later two consecutive Haney-lofted long treys that electrified the Claysburg crowd sending the teams to the locker rooms with the Bulldogs leading 32-20.

A comprehensive halftime locker room session of coaching instruction was in order.  In the first three minutes of quarter three, the Spartans scored five, reducing the Bulldog lead to seven.  But after a timeout, the Bulldogs scored and returned their lead to ten with the score 35-25. With under three minutes to go, the Spartans started full court pressing that created miscues for opportunities. Here the team demonstrated a discernible momentum shift to the immediate delight of the Spartan fans.   The Spartans scored seven unanswered in the last 95 seconds from Fletcher, Glenn and Earley to tie it at 37 ending the quarter.

To start the final frame, on the mid-court Bulldog throw-in, Glenn intercepted the pass to Haney and executed a successful fast break culminating in a slam dunk to take the lead 39-37. This play quieted the home crowd and energized both Spartan fans and the visiting Williamsburg contingent.  The Bulldogs sank one three, but the Spartans netted nine as midway the Spartans were up 48-40 after Haney fouled a fourth time and Ramsey hit both free throws. Then Cole Walter fouled out.  In under the last three minutes, the Spartan lead went from 8-points to end with 17-points using great ball holding, delay tactics, and holding the Bulldogs to five points in the quarter.  Key contributors to the 22-point quarter were Ramsey (8), Fletcher (6), Glenn (6), and Hann (2).

The Spartans (23-1) put three in double figures and were led by Glenn with a double-double (his eighth) of 17 points, 10 rebounds, three assists, and seven steals.  Brayden Ramsey netted 13 points, four assists, and three steals.  Sophomore Jace Fletcher had a big game with 13 points and six boards.  Spartans shot 11-14 (79%) from 2-point range, their highest 2FG shooting percentage this season.  This marks the Spartans’ fifth straight victory over the Bulldogs, with an average margin of 65.8 to 41.2 points.  The Spartans now have 23 wins by 11 points or more and averaging 35.2.  

Claysburg-Kimmel (19-5) put three in double figures: led by Brayden Haney with 13 points; then Christian Treon with 12 points; and Gavin Treon with 10. This loss snapped the Bulldogs’ ten-game home win streak.  

MCCONNELLSBURG (59)

Glenn 6 3-5 17, Earley 3 0-0 7, Hann 2 0-0 4, Ramsey 2 7-10 13, Fletcher 5 1-1 13, Sipes 0 2-2 2, Marpoe 0 0-0 0, Washabaugh 1 0-0 3, Lang 0 0-0 0, Totals 19 13-18 59.  3-point goals = 8 (Glenn 3, Ramsey 2, Fletcher 2, Earley, Washabaugh).  Totals: 31 rebounds (15 off/16 def), 13 assists, 14 steals, 4 blocks, 13 turnovers, 10 fouls, 2FG% 79%, 3FG% 35%, FTM% 72%.

CLAYSBURG-KIMMEL (42)

Haney 5 1-1 13, Kulick 0 0-0 0, C. Treon 3 3-3 12, Carey Walter 2 1-1 5, G. Treon 4 1-1 10, Cole Walter 1 0-1 2, Knisely 0 0-0 0, Mock 0 0-0 0, Bass 0 0-0 0, Totals 22 3-8 42.  3-point goals: 6 (C. Treon 3, Haney 2, G. Treon).  Totals: 16 fouls, 2 T-fouls (Haney, G. Treon), FTM% 88%.

McConnellsburg ……. 14      6    17    22   —   59

Claysburg-Kimmel …. 10    22     5       5   —   42

Next up: McConnellsburg (1) hosts the winner of Windber (4) and Southern Fulton (5) from the first round of District 5 Class AA playoffs on February 20 at 7 p.m.