KANE — The Elk County Catholic boys basketball team did a pretty solid job guarding Dane Anderson. Anderson, Kane’s leading scorer, had dropped 19 and 28 in the Wolves’ first two games, both wins.
The Crusaders held him to 11.
But that was only one of the game-changing figures from Wednesday night’s matchup.
ECC racked up 71 points; interestingly, none came from the 3-point line, as Elk connected on 27 two-pointers and finished 17-of-21 from the free throw line, taking advantage of 20 Kane fouls. It boasted two scorers with 16-plus points.
But perhaps most interestingly, and decisively, was this: after surrendering 15 first-quarter points and entering the second frame down five, the Crusaders allowed less than that — 11, to be exact — the rest of the way. It all amounted to a convincing 71-26 Allegheny Mountain League and season-opening triumph for ECC.
Wil Wortman tallied 19 points while Colby Nussbaum notched 16 for ECC, which outscored 61-11 over the final three frames. The Crusaders held every other Kane player to three points or fewer.
AT KANE Elk County Catholic (71)
Jo. Wasko 2 5-8 9, Urmann 1 2-2 4, Simbeck 2 4-4 8, O’Neill 2 3-4 7, Brannock 2 0-0 4, Sloff 1 0-0 2, Wortman 9 1-1 19, Nussbaum 7 2-2 16, Geci 1 0-0 2. Totals:
Kane (26)Anderson 3 4-5 11, Brown 1 0-2 2, Wensel 1 1-2 3, Chamberlain 1 0-0 2, Zook 1 0-0 2, Darr 1 2-2 4, Warofka 1 0-0 2. Totals:
Three-point goals: ECC (none), Kane 1 (Anderson); Total fouls: ECC 14, Kane 20; fouled out:
Coudersport 50, Smethport 35
SMETHPORT — Mason Roessner pumped in 23 points with four steals and Coudersport used a big second half to seal a season-opening win.
Micah Batson posted 10 points and four steals and Dylan Howard (8 points) grabbed a team-best eight rebounds for the Falcons. Coudy took an early 12-5 lead before Smethport pulled to within 25-22 at the break. The Falcons, however, outscored the Hubbers 25-13 over the final two quarters to pull away.
Colin Okerlund and Carson Dunn went for 11 and 10 points, respectively, for Smethport.
AT SMETHPORT Coudersport (50)
Van Why 2 0-0 6, Roessner 8 4-4 23, Batson 4 0-0 10, Howard 4 0-1 8, Sherry 0 1-2 1, Fowler 1 0-1 2, Freeman 0 0-2 0. Totals:
Smethport (35)Dunn 3 3-4 10, Burdick 1 0-0 3, Okerlund 5 1-2 11, McDowell 3 0-1 6, Riekofsky 2 0-0 4, Sherry 0 1-2 1. Totals:
Three-point goals: Coudy 7 (Van Why 2, Roessner 3, Batson 2), Smeth. 2 (Dunn, Burdick); Total fouls: Coudy 10, Smeth. 15; fouled out:
VARSITY WRESTLING
Sheffield 36, Bradford 33
BRADFORD — Jordan Thompson (152 pounds) opened the match with a first period win for Bradford, but Sheffield closed out with three-straight victories to secure the win.
In the second match, Thomas Langdon was pinned after establishing an 8-1 lead and James Horrick earned his first career win with a 12-8 decision over Joseph Patrick for the Owls.
“Overall, we gained some experience tonight, and ultimately we can’t give up pins, but that’s the nature of wrestling; it could be a great match and the next mistake you make could be fatal,” said Bradford coach Stefan Chaussard.
On Langdon’s effort, he added: “That’s tough because he truly wrestled very well up to that point he got pinned. Big picture, it’s a good learning experience, but for a freshman there’s a lot to build on.”
Of Horrick, he noted: “It was definitely the most entertaining match of the night, and for a kid with only a few practices under his belt, it was nice to see him win that one.”
JUNIOR HIGH WRESTLING
Bradford 60, Sheffield 12
Tevin Watkins and Luke Erickson both won by pin to lead Bradford.
Brady Rosendahl and Malyk Harpster each won by decision and Kay’Von Jones, Ryder Christjohn, Carson Hallock, Eddie Youmans, Cole Sloan, Keenan Miller and Maddux Benjamin all picked up forfeit victories for the Owls.
Bradford will return to action Dec. 19 at Port Allegany.
