A new rivalry started just two years back when Bald Eagle Area snapped its losing streak to Mountain League opponents against Tyrone. Ever since that year, Tyrone has had an even record of 2-2 against Bald Eagle Area and a little more respect for their program.
In the Mountain Athletic Conference, Tyrone and Bald Eagle Area were tied for second place going into Tuesday night’s game in Tyrone. With 4-1 records a piece in the conference, both knew this could be crucial later in the season for a shot for first place in the MAC.
Tyrone pounced on the Bald Eagles as they pulled off the first six points, four of which from Josh Crabtree. Bald Eagle calmed themselves down by calling a timeout with 5:01 to go in the first quarter.
The timeout paid off for Bald Eagle Area as Dustin McClain came out of the huddle and drained three trey’s to start a 9-0 run and their first lead of the game, 9-6.
Crabtree managed to get Tyrone back into the game scoring 8 first quarter points while dipping up and under Cory and Cody Boone, who stand 6-6 and 6-7 feet tall.
After one quarter of play and second place bragging rights in the conference, the teams were locked at 16. Bald Eagle Area hit four three’s in the first quarter, but Tyrone matched their stats with several fast break lay-ups.
Picking it up in the second quarter, Tyrone’s Kevin Hershberger crossed behind his back against one defender and quickly crossed over in front another Bald Eagle defender before hitting his amazing runner in the key. This was just two of his eight first half points.
Tyrone could not catch a lead in the second quarter as Bald Eagle Area outscored the Golden Eagles by one point going into the locker room up 26-25 on the road.
The Golden Eagle’s defense played great on the Boone twins, allowing them to just for 14 comined points, but they let the guards take over the first half as they hit six first half trey’s that aided their totals.
Tyrone still trailed by small amounts in the third quarter, answering shot for shot against this Bald Eagle Area squad. Hersberger took control in the third quarter as he drained eight of his game high 20 points, keeping Tyrone in the game.
With time running out, Tyrone needed to make a run at the Bald Eagle Area lead, 41-36 after three quarters of play.
The fourth quarter was crucial for Tyrone. Leonard Wilson picked up his third foul early in fourth quarter which sat him down for a quick breather. Tyrone replaced him with Byron Kost who took his only fast break lay-up of the game against Cory Boone, a 6’7 defender that licked his chops at the sight of Kost on the break-a-way. As Byron put up a tear drop, Boone stuck the ball half way up the back board only to be called for a goal tend that put Tyrone within three.
After the call, Tyrone seemed to gain a boost of momentum as they tore off a 7-0 run that put Tyrone ahead 49-45 with 2:33 to go in the game. This was Tyrone’s first lead of the game since the first quarter.
Bald Eagle Area substituted Dustin McClain back into the game with 2:33 to go, pondering questions of why he didn’t play at all in the third quarter. He drained four trey’s in the first half, and Tyrone was having a lot of trouble guarding him. Once again,he checked into the game and hit a lay-up that cut into Tyrone’s lead 49-47.
“McClain not coming back into the game was more to our benefit because he was their best shooter,” coach Mike Harris said. “He wasn’t a good ball handler, so I think this was why he [Bill Butterworth] was worried about putting him back in there,”
Leonard Wilson took over the point guard position, pushing the ball past several Bald Eagle Area defenders going coast to coast with 1:34 to go to put the Golden Eagles ahead 51-47. Hershberger followed a missed shot going coast to coast on his own and getting fouled hard as he took it to the rack. He would sinke both free-throws, putting Tyrone in the driver seat for the remaning 50 seconds of the game.
James Foust managed to pick Wilson’s pocket with just 30 seconds to go, but the lay-up was all they would score. Tyrone went on to win 55-49 against the tough Bald Eagle Area squad that sent them to a 3-2 conference record and out of second place.
“Playing against Bald Eagle Area was a big-time game for us to win,” coach Mike Harris said. “Our next two games are on the road at Philipburg and Bellefonte, then we have Lewistown at home which are all very crucial games that will decide our fate in the Mountain Athletic Conference.”
Hershberger scored a game high 20 points for Tyrone, getting more comfortable with his teammates and his game. Josh Crabtree also chipped in with 14 points of his own, scoring eight of them in the first quarter alone.
“Hershberger was our leading scorer last year and I think that this year he’s coming back strong for us,” Harris said. “The more he plays, the better he gets and this is going to help us in the long run.”
Tyrone held Cory and Cody Boone to 14 points combined which surprised all of the Bald Eagle Area fans. The twins were averaging close to 29 combined points a game. Tyrone really did a great job down low in stopping the two monsters.
With the win, Tyrone improves to 7-4 and 4-1 in the conference. This moves them into second place, past the Bald Eagles’ and right behind Lewistown who they lost to earlier in the year.
Tyrone will play away at Philipsburg Friday night in conference action.
Bald Eagle Area drops to 7-5 and 3-2 in the conference, as Tyrone took control of the second spot in the MAC. Dustin McClain led Bald Eagle with 14 and four trey’s in their loss to Tyrone.
Junior varsity
Tyrone jayvee run away in the second half to post a 58-24 victory.
Tyrone jayvee led 20-15 at the end of one half against Bald Eagle Area, as the game was close and could go either way. The second half was all Tyrone, however, as they would outscore the Bald Eagle’s 26-4 in the third quarter, going ahead 46-19. They held Bald Eagle Area to just nine second half points, taking total control of the game.
Tyrone’s Shane Barr scored 12 points and hit three trey’s to help Tyrone in their victory. Steve Catich also chipped in 10 in the Golden Eagle win. This gives the Tyrone jayvee a 3-3 record going into Friday’s game at Philipsburg.
Bald Eagle Area jayvee drop to 2-9 on the season as Drew Wetzel led all their scorers with nine of his own.
Tyrone 55 Bald Eagle Area 49
Tyrone – Wilson 5 0-1 10, Crabtree 5 4-8 14, Hershberger 8 4-4 20, Chamberlain 0 1-4 1, Clark 3 0-0 6, Corle 0 0-0 0, Haney 1 0-0 2, Kost 1 0-0 2. TOTALS 23 9-16 55.
Bald Eagle Area – Rishell 2 0-0 5, McClain 5 0-0 14, Foust 4 0-0 9, Cr. Boone 5 0-0 10, Cd. Boone 2 0-1 4, McGee 0 2-4 2, Rougeux 1 2-2 5. TOTALS 19 4-7 49.
Score by Quarters
Bald Eagle Area 16 10 15 8 – 49
Tyrone 16 9 11 19 – 55
Three point goals: BEA-7(McClain-4, Rishell, Foust, Rougeux)
Junior Varsity
Tyrone 58 Bald Eagle Area 24
Tyrone – Catich 4 2-3 10, Kost 1 0-0 3, Schaffer 3 1-2 7, Barr 4 1-2 12, Brockett 0 2-2 2, Branstetter 3 0-0 6, Morrow 1 0-0 4, Levinson 2 2-2 6, Golden 2 0-0 4, Stover 2 0-1 4, Beck 1 0-0 2. TOTALS 23 8-12 58.
BEA – Fayman 2 0-0 4, Kader 1 0-0 2, Wetzel 4 1-2 9, Miller 1 1-2 4, Resto 2 0-0 5. TOTALS 10 2-4 24.
Score by Quarters
Bald Eagle Area 11 4 4 5 – 24
Tyrone 10 10 26 12 – 58
Three point goals: BEA-2 (Miller, Resto).
Tyrone -4 (Barr-3, Kost).
