CLEARFIELD 34, PUNXSUTAWNEY 27

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Jan. 21, 2009

By Fred Kavelak

HYDE - A long, momentum-changing 3-pointer by Annie Janocko at the third-quarter buzzer provided the spark that got Clearfield out of its recent second-half doldrums Wednesday night, and the Lady Bisons hit their first five shots in the fourth period for an important 34-27 D9 League win over visiting Punxsutawney. 

Clearfield's first home victory in eight years against Punxsy ended a four-game losing streak and left both teams with a 3-4 league record, which will be the first tie-breaker for the District 9 Class AAA Playoffs. With St. Marys all but assured of the top seed at 6-1 and Bradford trailing at 1-7, the Lady Bisons and Lady Chucks are in a battle for a first-round home game.

After leading 18-14 at halftime, the Lady Bisons missed their first four shots of the third quarter and turned the ball over five times but trailed only 21-18 when Gwenn Porter sunk a foul shot with 1:49 left.

Janocko's buzzer-beater regained the lead, 22-21, and every starter contributed to the 12-3 run that made it 34-24 midway through the fourth period.

The only points in the final 4:02 came on a 3-pointer by Punxsy's Amber Fye with 1:49 remaining, as the Lady Bisons averted losing for the fourth consecutive time after being in front at the half.

Clearfield (5-8), led by Janocko and Sarah Kovalick with eight points apiece, connected on six of 13 3 pointers and shot 40.6 percent (13-for-32).

Jenny Reitz hit a trio of 3-pointers to pace Punxsy (5-10), which made only nine of 45 attempts for 20 percent.

CLEARFIELD 34, PUNXSUTAWNEY 27

SCORE BY QUARTERS

Punxsutawney   10   4  7   6  -  27

Clearfield           7  11  4  12  -  34

PUNXSUTAWNEY --- 27

Jenna Reitz 3 0-0 9, Lauren Janocha 1 0-0 2, Brittany Baker 2 0-2 4, Amanda Toven 0 0-0 0, Allie Miller 0 5-6 5, Megan McCully 2 0-0 4, Amber Fye 1 0-0 3, Shawnna Crago 0 0-0 0.  TOTALS: 9 5-8 27.

CLEARFIELD --- 34

Annie Janocko 3 0-0 8, Sarah Kovalick 3 0-0 8, Jayme Ryan 1 0-0 3, Madison Sopic 3 2-3 7, Gwenn Porter 2 1-3 6, Amber Byerly 0 0-0 0, Elizabeth Peters 1 0-0 2, Lori Zalno 0 0-0 0.  TOTALS: 13 2-6 34.