Crusaders Win, Flying Dutch Fall to Cranberry

Cranberry 48, St. Marys 40.

Cranberry overcame a slow start to beat St. Marys, 48-40, in the D9 Showcase at PennWest Clarion’s Tippin Gym. Drew Schultz had a game-high 19 points for St. Marys, while Nico Assalone added eight points.

ELK COUNTY CATHOLIC 57, KARNS CITY 30

CLARION, Pa. – Chase Simbeck scored 21 points to lead Elk County Catholic to a 57-30 win over Karns City in the D9 Showcase at PennWest Clarion’s Tippin Gym. Jack Breindel added 13 points for the Crusaders, who saw 10 players score.

PORT ALLEGANY 53, NORTHERN POTTER 31

ULYSSES, Pa. – Jarrod Funk had 24 points and nine rebounds, as Port Allegany picked up a 53-31 road NTL win over Northern Potter. Isac Amell added12 points, six assists, and four steals in the win, while Chase Boyd had eight points

Blake Marchinke had an all-around storng game in leading Cranberry past St. Marys in the D9 Showcase at PennWest Clarion's Tippin Gym Friday night. Marchinke was named the Allegheny Grille of Foxburg Player of the Game. Photo by Chris Rossetti

CLARION, Pa. – Cranberry overcame a slow start to beat St. Marys, 48-40, in the D9 Showcase at PennWest Clarion’s Tippin Gym.

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Relisten to the game

St. Marys jumped up 8-0 early, but Cranberry answered with a 7-0 spurt before using a 4-0 run at the end of the half to take a 25-21 halftime lead.

The game remained close into the fourth quarter, before the Berries were able to push the advantage to 10 late.

“It was important (to get the win),” Cranberry Blake Marchinke, who had 11 points and nearly as many assists, said. “Big stage here on the big court. That makes us playoff eligible, I believe. That was important for us to get it done here on a big floor.”

Marchinke, who was named the Allegheny Grille of Foxburg Player of the Game, said St. Marys’ style of play affected the Berries early on.

“They were breaking us down on offense,” Marchinke said. “They kind of play slow. That kind of broke our rhythm. We like to get out in transition. They were hitting a few back-door cuts. We knew if we picked up the intensity, we would score and play our ball. That is kind of what happened there.”

Listen to Marchinke’s full postgame interview.

Cole Findlay led Cranberry with 17 points, while Shia Sanchez added 10.

Drew Schultz had a game-high 19 points for St. Marys, while Nico Assalone added eight points.

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OTTO-ELDRED 45, COUDERSPORT 36

DUKE CENTER, Pa. – Otto-Eldred blasted out to a 10-point lead at the end of the first quarter on its way to its 72nd straight NTL win, 45-36, over visiting Coudersport.

The Terrors, facing perhaps the biggest threat to their streak so far this year, led 14-4 at the end of the first quarter.

Michael Sheeler knocked down a pair of first-quarter 3-pointers, and Wyatt Blendinger scored six of his 12 points in the opening eight minutes. Blendinger also added nine rebounds.

Mason Rees then hit three second-half triples on his way to a team-best 14 points.

Jack Sherry added six points, 11 rebounds, and four blocked shots in the win, and Macaibe Spalin dished out five assists.

Lawson Wetzel led Coudersport with 20 points and five rebounds.

ELK COUNTY CATHOLIC 57, KARNS CITY 30

CLARION, Pa. – Chase Simbeck scored 21 points to lead Elk County Catholic to a 57-30 win over Karns City in the D9 Showcase at PennWest Clarion’s Tippin Gym.

Jack Breindel added 13 points for the Crusaders, who saw 10 players score.

PORT ALLEGANY 53, NORTHERN POTTER 31

ULYSSES, Pa. – Jarrod Funk had 24 points and nine rebounds, as Port Allegany picked up a 53-31 road NTL win over Northern Potter.

Nick Wilfong also had a solid all-around game with five points, four steals, and four assists for the Gators. Dante Houghtailing led Northern Potter with eight points.

GALETON 56, SMETHPORT 33

GALETON, Pa. – Galeton got 21 points from Gavin Shutt in a 56-33 home NTL victory over Smethport. Trey Sykora added 14 points for the Tigers. Colin Okerlund led Smethport with 14 points.

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