With almost two weeks since they played their last regular season game, the Tyrone Junior High boys basketball team traveled to the Clearfield Middle School last week to participate in the annual Clearfield Junior High Tournament. Ninth-grader Steve Catich joined the team for this post-season tournament, after playing the regular season with the Tyrone JV squad. And Josh Bradley was forced to sit out due to an injury suffered at the end of the regular season.
Game 1 – Wednesday, March 2: Tyrone vs. Dubois
In their first match-up of the tournament, the Eagles started in strong fashion with a 43-17 win over Dubois. Mark Mitchell’s Eagles were on their game right from the opening tap, limiting Dubois to few looks at the basket. They held the Beavers scoreless until 45 seconds left in the opening period, taking an 11-2 lead. Catich with five points, and Nate Dane with four, started the scoring. Dubois played Tyrone even in the second quarter, but the Eagles missed several 1-on-1 foul opportunities. But they led at halftime 17-9.
Following intermission, Tyrone revved up it’s attack, scoring 13 points in the third quarter to take a 30-13 lead. And then outscored the Beavers 13-4 in the final quarter to win 43-17. Steve Catich led the way with 14 points, with nine added from Chris McCaulley, and eight from Nathan Dane.
Tyrone 43 Dubois 17
Score by quarters:
Tyrone 11 6 13 13 – 43
Dubois 2 7 6 2 – 17
Scorers: Catich 14, McCaulley 9, Dane 8, Gehret 5, Etters 4, Peterman 3
Game 2 – Thursday, March 3: Tyrone vs. Jersey Shore
In Tyrone’s second game of the tournament, the Eagles fell behind in the first quarter to a strong Jersey Shore team. But in the 2nd quarter, just as they started to get rolling, Nathan Dane was lost to a knee injury as he was trying to retrieve a long rebound. The two teams tied each other in the third quarter, but the Bulldogs were able to pull away in the fourth and win 41-37. The loss sent Tyrone to the loser’s bracket. Steve Catich had 10 points to lead the Eagles.
Jersey Shore 41 Tyrone 37
Score by quarters:
Tyrone 9 11 8 9 – 37
Jersey Shore 11 8 8 14 – 41
Scorers: Catich 10, Harris 8, Peterman 6, Hampton 6, Dane 4, Schaffer 2, McCaulley 1
Game 3 – Friday, March 4: Tyrone vs. Bellefonte
Pulling together after a tough loss to Jersey Shore, the Eagles won a tough low-scoring contest against the Bellefonte Red Raiders to stay alive in the tournament. After Bellefonte came back in the second quarter to lead 16-15 at the half, Tyrone outscored them 6-2 in the third to take a 3- point lead. They held that lead through the fourth quarter to win 29-26, and eliminate the Raiders. Steve Catich scored 12 points, and John Schaffer added five as he started at the center position.
Tyrone 29 Bellefonte 26
Score by quarters:
Tyrone 9 6 6 8 – 29
Bellefonte 5 11 2 8 – 26
Scorers: Catich 12, Schaffer 5, Gehret 4, Harris 4, McCaulley 2, Etters 2
Game 4 – Saturday, March 5: Tyrone vs. St. Mary’s
Working hard to stay alive and earn at least a third place finish, the Tyrone Golden Eagles battled St. Mary’s in their first game of the last day of the tournament. Holding a slight upper edge throughout the contest thanks to a balanced scoring attack, the Eagles outlasted St. Mary’s 39-31. Steve Catich scored 11 points while Brandon Gehret, John Schaffer, and Ethan Etters all scored eight apiece.
Tyrone 39 St. Mary’s 31
Score by quarters:
Tyrone 8 10 12 9 – 39
St. Mary’s 6 8 13 4 – 31
Scorers: Catich 11, Gehret 8, Schaffer 8, Etters 8, McCaulley 4
Game 5 – Saturday, March 5: Tyrone vs. Clearfield
With only a few minutes rest between games, the Eagles took on the host team Clearfield. The determined Bisons came out firing, hitting four three-pointers in the opening period to take a 14-6 lead. But the Eagles showed they still had some energy left in the tank as they came back strong in the second. Travis Peterman scored all 10 of his points in helping the Eagles fight back, and tie the game 20-20 at halftime.
In the third quarter, Tyrone played smart basketball, working hard for good shots. They outscored the Bisons 5-2 to take a three point lead. But in the last quarter, Clearfield tied the game to go to overtime. Once again, the Eagles played with heart and determination as they foiled the Clearfield attack, winning in OT 33-29. The win guaranteed a second place finish.
Tyrone 33 Clearfield 29, OT
Score by quarters:
Tyrone 6 14 5 3 5 – 33
Clearfield 14 6 2 6 1 – 29
Scorers: Peterman 10, Gehret 8, Catich 7, Harris 4, Schaffer 3, McCaulley 1
Game 6 – Saturday, March 5: Tyrone vs. Jersey Shore
After securing second place, a weary Tyrone team was given the opportunity to play a fresh Jersey Shore Bulldogs team. Being their third game in a row, and fighting their way out of the loser’s bracket, the Eagles didn’t have much energy left. But they gave it everything they had. Continuing to play smart and disciplined basketball, the Eagles surprised the Bulldogs by leading 8-5 after the first quarter, and 15-10 at halftime.
But by the third quarter, exhaustion was catching up to Tyrone, and they could not hold off a good Jersey Shore team. They fell behind 24-22 by the end of the third quarter, and lost the game 32-27. Indicative of Tyrone’s play throughout the tournament, Travis Peterman closed out Tyrone’s scoring by stealing a pass with 1:15 left in the game and hitting a three-pointer. And the Eagles were 8-8 from the foul line. Steve Catich, Travis Peterman, and Chris McCaulley all had six points apiece.
Jersey Shore 32 Tyrone 27
Score by quarters:
Tyrone 8 7 7 5 – 27
Jersey Shore 5 5 14 8 – 32
Scorers: Peterman 6, Catich 6, McCaulley 6, Gehret 5, Schaffer 2, Etters 2
Overall, the Tyrone junior high boys basketball team compiled a 4-2 record in the Clearfield Tournament, overcoming the loss of key players and a grueling final day with three straight games to secure a second place finish. In his first season as head junior high coach, Mark Mitchell’s Eagles finished their season with a very successful 20-6 record.
