KEYSTONE 68, NORTH CLARION 61

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Feb. 28, 2009 - District 9 Class A Boys' Consolation Game

By Chris Rossetti

CLARION – Keystone built a 21-point second-half lead and then held off a furious North Clarion rally to win the District 9 Class A boys’ consolation game 68-61 over the Wolves Saturday afternoon at Clarion University’s Tippin Gym.

The Panthers, who played an uncharacteristic up-tempo game, led 52-31 in the third quarter.

But North Clarion, which loves the up-tempo style, went on a 23-5 run to close the gap to 57-54 on a 3-pointer by Kyle Gilbert with 4:36 left in the game.

Keystone still led by just three, 59-56, following a putback by Gilbert with four minutes left, but the Panthers scored four straight points to take a 63-56 advantage with 3:05 to play. North Clarion wasn’t able to get closer than four the rest of the way.

Ben Black led Keystone with 19 points including four 3-pointers – three in the second quarter. He added a team-high eight rebounds. Dan Reed chipped in with 15 points and five board and Ben Marchand had 12 tallies.

Sophomore Jeremy Schmader led North Clarion with 19 points, while Gilbert added 13 points, including 10 in the fourth quarter, and a game-high 12 rebounds.

Both teams advance to the PIAA Playoffs. Keystone will take on District 10 champion Kennedy Catholic, while North Clarion will play WPIAL champion Sewickley Academy.

NOTES – It was Keystone third win over North Clarion since Feb. 11.

KEYSTONE 68, NORTH CLARION 61

Score by Quarters

Keystone 15 26 11 16 – 68

N. Clarion 14 8 20 19 – 61

Keystone – 68

Jake Knight 1 0-0 2, Ben Marchand 5 1-5 12, Brian Long 1 0-0 2, Chandler Clark 3 0-0 6, Ben Black 6 3-6 19, Brett Zuck 1 0-0 2, Brock Witkowski 2 4-4 8, Dan Reed 6 3-5 15, Lexan Montana 1 0-2 1, Nick Bowser 0 0-0 0. Totals 26 11-21 68.

North Clarion – 61

Jeremy Schmader 7 4-5 18, John Bobak 2 0-0 5, Chris Mannerino 0 0-0 0, Zach Weaver 3 0-0 6, Tyler Miller 1 0-0 3, Bryan Burkhardt 3 0-0 6, Chad Wolbert 1 0-0 3, Steven Hargenrader 2 3-6 7, Kyle Gilbert 5 0-0 13. Totals 24 6-10 61.

Three-pointers – Keystone 5 (Black 4, Marchand). North Clarion 5 (Gilbert 3, Bobak, Miller).