In last weeks matchup, Bellefonte dominated Tyrone, allowing only six Tyrone foul shots and defeating them by 17. Tyrone, now on a three game win streak since that game, looked to take a different approach in Wednesday nights game.
The first quarter looked like it was pacing at 80 points a piece for the game, as Tyrone and Bellefonte came out gunning, scoring 22 points combined in the first three minutes. Tyrone trailed 12-10 with 4:20 to go and did not score for the remainder of the first quarter. Although the Eagles came back strong in the third quarter, Bellefonte prevailed 59-55.
Bellefonte scored the last 10 points of the first quarter to go ahead 20-10 and started to put the Eagles on tilt as they headed into the second quarter. This game looked to be in the hands of Bellefonte as they controlled the clock and possession on offense the entire first half.
Tyrone looked to make a run in the second quarter, but once again Tyrone had some trouble on offense as they were outscored 16-12 in the second quarter and down 14 at the half. A lot of catching up was needed in this huge conference game.
“There wasn’t a lot of yelling in the locker room at the half,” coach Mike Harris said. “Our guys weren’t upset and I just told them that they had to hang in there, play our game, and get it done.”
The pep talk at the half must have clicked a spark in the Eagles as they came out blazing.
After matching buckets from both teams, the score read 40-26 in favor of Bellefonte with just 6:06 to go in the third. Tyrone needed a run, and that’s what they got.
Led by Leonard Wilson, Tyrone hit six straight points to pull within eight as Bellefonte quickly called a timeout to cease the momentum shift and pause the game.
Tyrone did not let up, however, as Josh Clark came out of the huddle and gunned a three down in his defender’s face, pulling the Eagles within five points.
The run wasn’t finished yet as Tyrone scored four more points that cut the previous 14 point lead to just one, 40-39, with just 2:02 to go in the third quarter. A 13-0 run from Tyrone jump started the student section as they also had a battle with the opposing student section during the game. It seemed as though I was at a cheerleading competition with the two sections taunting and yelling chants at each other throughout the game.
Down one, Tyrone looked to take a lead, but a turnover took the ball to the other end for a Jordan Williams lay-in that put the Raiders up three with a minute remaining in the third quarter.
Josh Crabtree did not want to see his team slide back at all as he miraculously tipped in a rebound over two Bellefonte players, putting the score within one again. As the clock ticked down, Tyrone missed a couple opportunities to score, but a missed shot from Bellefonte allowed a fast break lay-up from Leonard Wilson to occur and give Tyrone the lead after three quarters of play, 43-42.
The crowd now behind Tyrone and the gym rattling from the noise, Tyrone needed to knock off the top seed in the conference to earn a shot at the MAC championship. The final quarter was the deciding factor, it was anyone’s ball game from here on out.
“We were right there,” Harris said. “I felt the game was ours and we got right back into our type of game. We got the ball in the key, attacked the glass, did a great job of rebounding and just fought our way back into the game.”
Dallas Settle put Bellefonte up one on a quick shot to put Bellefonte up one, but Tad Chamberlain answered back at the other end with some cleanup action on the boards, taking the lead 45-44. It seemed that the game was going to seasaw until someone hit the final shot, but Cody Smith nailed a three pointer to take a 47-45 lead with just over seven minutes to play.
The following possession, Chamberlain was at it again, shuffling past Scott Johnson and almost bringing the house down as he skied for two, tying the game at 47 a piece with 6:57 to go in the game.
Neither of these two teams wanted to settle for a loss. This game decided who was number one and Tyrone had to win to have a first place seed as of now.
Time was running down, and Tyrone kept up with Bellefonte, tying the game at 50 with just 2:42 to go in the game. The door was wide open for either team and Bellefonte looked to shut down this Tyrone squad for a second time.
After a Scott Johnson bucket, Josh Clark went coast-to-coast hitting a quick fast break jumper to tie the game at 52. It seemed as if Tyrone just wouldn’t let go, but Tyler James nailed a shot with 0:42 seconds to go in the game as Tyrone took a timeout.
“We called a timeout to set up a play,” Harris said, “and they caused a turnover. That happens in basketball and they made a great play to take the lead [54-52].”
After the timeout, Tyrone was down just two points when Dallas Settle was fouled hard after a missed shot from Adam Corle that rattled around the rim that would have taken the lead. Instead, Settle drained both free throws which gave Bellefonte a four point lead with 12.8 seconds left in regulation.
Tyrone still had a prayer left in them if they could hit a three pointer in the following possession. Well, Leonard Wilson, an inside based player took a risk and nailed a clutch three pointer that put Tyrone within a point, 56-55, with 4.0 seconds left.
Fouling Scott Johnson was the best thing Tyrone could do, being one of their least favorable players to send to the charity strip. Since it was a one and one, Tyrone had a chance to rebound a missed shot and sprint down the court for a last second shot, but Johnson hit one of two and rebounded his own miss, forcing Tyrone to foul once again.
Johnson sank both shots and shattered Tyrone’s comeback as the Red Raiders win a thriller, 59-55.
Tyrone’s Leonard Wilson and Tad Chamberlain both tallied 15 for the game in their loss against the number one opponent, Bellefonte. The Eagles shot just eight foul shots Wednesday night, and coach Mike Harris quoted on this factor of the game.
“Well we stuck to our game plan and went strong to the basket, but Bellefonte went to the foul line 24 times and we took just eight trips to the line. Our job was to pound it inside and when the officials don’t clean up the post area, there is not a whole lot that you can do. At that point you have to just bear down and get it done. We had our opportunities tonight, and that’s just how it goes.”
With the loss, Tyrone drops to 7-3 in the conference and 11-6 overall. They play at Indian Valley Friday night in MAC action at 7:00.
Bellefonte once again put four of their five starters in double figures with Scott Johnson and Jordan Williams leading the way with 13 a piece. Bellefonte extends their overall record to 16-3 and their conference record to 9-1 with the win over the second seed, Tyrone.
Tyrone jayvee record another
victory against Bellefonte
The Tyrone jayvee squad had a great game Wednesday night as they defeated a stingy Bellefonte jayvee team, 56-51. Remaining close the entire game, Tyrone remained with the lead the entire game, not letting up after the third quarter ended.
Despite 26 points from Denny Glunt, Tyrone contained and held the rest of the Red Raiders under double digits.
Tyrone’s Adam Schaffer and Steve Catich led the way as Schaffer threw in 14 along with 12 from Catich. The Eagles improve to 8-3 overall now as they take on Indian Valley Friday night at 6:00.
Denny Glunt led all scorers for Bellefonte with 26 in their loss at Tyrone, Wednesday night.
Bellefonte 59 Tyrone 55
Bellefonte – Smith 3 1-4 9, Settle 4 3-3 11, Johnson 3 7-9 13, Williams 5 2-2 13, James 4 3-4 12, Thal 0 1-2 1. TOTALS 19 17-24 59.
Tyrone – Wilson 6 2-2 15, Crabtree 2 0-2 4, Hershberger 3 2-2 8, Chamberlain 7 1-2 15, Clark 5 0-0 11, Corle 1 0-0 2. TOTALS 24 5-8 55.
Score by Quarters
Bellefonte 20 16 6 17 – 59
Tyrone 10 12 21 12 – 55
Three point goals: Bellefonte-4 (Smith-2, Williams, James)
Tyrone-2 (Wilson, Clark).
Junior Varsity
Tyrone 56 Bellefonte 51
Tyrone – Barr 3 0-1 6, Kost 1 2-2 4, Brockett 1 1-2 3, Schaffer 6 2-2 14, Catich 6 0-0 12, Morrow 0 1-2 1, Branstetter 3 2-5 8, Golden 1 0-0 2, Levinson 3 0-0 6. TOTALS 24 8-14 56.
Bellefonte – Johnson 3 0-2 6, Glunt 9 5-5 26, Gates 1 2-4 4, Olsen 3 0-0 9, Leathers 1 0-0 2, Irwin 0 2-2 2. TOTALS 17 9-13 51.
Score By Quarters
Bellefonte 9 16 9 17 – 51
Tyrone 14 13 10 19 – 56
Three point goals: Bellefonte-6 (Glunt-3, Olsen-3)
Tyrone none.
