Just 24 hours after a strong win at Lewistown last Thursday, first-year coach Mark Mitchell’s Tyrone Junior High boys basketball team dropped a close game in the last few moments to a determined Penns Valley team that battled back from an eight-point halftime deficit to defeat the Little Eaglesm, 36-33.
The loss dropped their early season record to 1-2, and focused the young Eagles on some areas for improvement. After a close first quarter where Tyrone held an edge at 6-4, the Eagles outscored the Rams 12-6 to go to the locker room with an 18-10 lead.
Following halftime, the Rams stepped up their defensive intensity and Tyrone found it difficult to get a basket as they were outscored 9-2.
With a narrow 20-19 lead, a dramatic fourth quarter involved many lead changes. As the Eagles struggled from the foul line, they left the door open for the Rams. The game came down to the final few seconds as Travis Peterman got loose on an out-of-bounds play and fired a three-pointer that narrowly missed. The final score was Penns Valley 36, Tyrone 33.
Matt Brooks led Tyrone’s scoring with seven points.
In the eighth grade game, Darren Elvey’s Tyrone team ran out to a quick 15-0 lead, and dominated the Rams in a 42-8 win. That win raised their record to 2-0. Ethan Etters led the way with 16 points, and seven other players contributed to the scoring.
In their third away game in four contests, Tyrone’s Junior High boys basketball team worked together to overcome a spirited effort by the Bellefonte Red Raiders, on Monday and even their record at 2-2 with a 46-41 victory.
With Josh Bradley back in the lineup after missing last Friday’s game vs. Penns Valley, Tyrone got out to a fast start leading 15-8 after the first quarter.
In the second quarter, a pair of three-pointers by Travis Peterman and one by Brandon Gehret fueled most of Tyrone’s scoring. A scoring run by Bellefonte was halted as a bucket by Jon Hampton closed the first half at 28-19.
Although Bellefonte increased it’s defensive intensity in the third quarter, the Eagles were able to keep pace with the Raiders on the strength of strong rebounding and a put-back by Chris McCaulley, and on two big three-pointers by Peterman and Gehret.
Beginning the fourth quarter up 37-30, Tyrone withstood another surge by Bellefonte, and hit key free throws down the stretch-two by Gehret at 3:20 to make the score 40-34, one by Bradley at 2:43 for 41-35, one by Hampton at 1:35 for 42-38, two more by Bradley at 45 seconds for 44-38, and one final free throw by Bradley with four seconds to play after a Bellefonte three-pointer had pulled them to within four.
Travis Peterman led Tyrone’s scoring with 13 points, followed by point guard Brandon Gehret’s 12. Tyrone’s last contest before Christmas was at home Tuesday afternoon vs. Indian Valley.
In the pre-lim eighth grade game, the Golden Eagles ran their record to 3-0 by defeating Bellefonte 40-19. John Shaffer and Nate Dane had strong inside games, controlling the boards, and enabling Kyle Updyke and Ethan Etters to score 12 and 10, respectively.
