While both of the Tyrone junior high teams lost their games this past Monday against Spring Cove, both came back to overcome Clearfield to pick up their 20th wins of the season!
Mark Mitchell and Darin Elvey have done a terrific job with these boys over the last two seasons. While the 8th grade season is finished, the 9th graders will continue into
Following their difficult losses at Hollidaysburg on Friday, Feb. 10, Tyrone’s junior high boys basketball teams traveled to Roaring Spring on Monday, Feb. 13, to take on the Spring Cove Scarlet Dragons.
Still reeling a bit from their last game, and not having a chance to practice in between, the Eagles played an uncharacteristic game where they spent too much time second-guessing themselves, and just could not seem to get in sync offensively or defensively.
The Tyrone ninth graders handed their hosts an easy 45-24 victory, and the eighth graders lost a closer game 36-30.
In the ninth grade game, Spring Cove gained a slight edge in the first quarter 4-2, as the Eagles just could not get the lid off the basket.
That lead ballooned to an 18-4 halftime lead as the Dragons outscored Tyrone 14-2.
Following intermission, the Eagles came out with a bit more energy, but could not make the defensive stops necessary to climb back into the game. And with three minutes to go in the game, and down 43-21, the Eagles conceded and gave the reserves an opportunity to play.
The Eagles lost 45-24, and were led in scoring by eighth grader Eric Desch’s 10 points, including two three-pointers in the third quarter.
The loss dropped Tyrone’s ninth grade record to 19-3.
9th Grade
Spring Cove 45 Tyrone 24
Score by quarters
Tyrone 2 2 15 5 – 24
Spring Cove 4 14 18 9 – 45
Tyrone – Desch 10, Updyke 7, Young 3, Dane 2, Shaffer 2
The eighth grade game was much closer between the Eagles and the Dragons.
Tyrone gained a slight edge after one quarter 6-4, but then fell behind 13-11 by halftime.
And in the last two quarters, the Eagles were unable to overcome Spring Cove, as the Dragons just edged them by two points in each.
The result was a 36-30 loss. Levi Riehart and Jordan Taylor led the Eagles with 7 points each.
The loss dropped the eighth graders record to 19-6.
8th Grade
Spring Cove 36 Tyrone 30
Score by quarters
Tyrone 6 5 9 10 – 30
Central 4 9 11 12 – 36
Tyrone – Riehart 7, Taylor 7, Walker 5, McKeehan 4, Desch 3, Bryan 2, Hertzler
2
Having the opportunity to get back into practice following two tough losses in a row, coaches Mark Mitchell and Darin Elvey got the Tyrone Junior High boys basketball teams back into sync and they played much better against the visiting Clearfield Bisons.
Both achieved their 20th wins of the season. The ninth graders hung on to win a close one 36-35, and the eighth graders used a strong first half to fuel a 23-18 win.
The ninth grade Eagles fell behind early at the end of the first quarter when the Bisons sunk a three-pointer to take an 8-7 lead, but then got rolling in the second period as Tyrone’s big men, Nate Dane and John Shaffer, contributed six and three points, respectively.
The result was a slight 16-13 lead.
Then, in the third quarter, they each added two more buckets each along with Kyle Updyke’s three-pointer to take a 27-22 lead into the final period.
The Bisons made a strong run at the Eagles, but could not overcome another basket each from Dane and Shaffer, and a timely three-pointer from Travis Peterman.
The Eagles held on to win 36-35 as the Bison’s last long shot fell short at the buzzer, and earned themselves their 20th win of the season.
Nate Dane and John Shaffer led the scoring with 12 and 11 points, and the Eagles finished the season 20-3.
9th Grade
Tyrone 36 Clearfield 35
Score by quarters
Tyrone 7 9 11 9 – 36
Clearfield 8 5 9 13 – 35
Tyrone – Dane 12, Shaffer 11, Peterman 8, Updyke 5
The Tyrone eighth graders jumped out to a 12-4 first quarter lead, and a 17- 8 first half advantage, but then had to hold off a late game rally by the Bisons in the fourth quarter to win 23-18.
The win also signified the 20th win of the season for the Tyrone 8th graders.
Dillon McKeehan scored six points to lead Tyrone, with five from Levi Riehart.
8th Grade
Tyrone 23 Clearfield 18
Score by quarters
Tyrone 12 5 2 4 – 23
Clearfield 4 4 1 9 – 18
Tyrone – McKeehan 6, Riehart 5, Desch 4, Taylor 4, Walker 2, Bryan 2
Next week, Tyrone’s ninth grade basketball team will continue into the postseason, as they start play at 6 p.m. on Wednesday, Feb. 22, in the 10th annual 9th Grade Basketball Tournament hosted by the Clearfield Bison Basketball Club.
This tournament features 12 entries, including last year’s first place Jersey Shore Bulldogs, who downed the Eagles 32-27 in the championship.
