(Photo by Mike Schnelle)
“You couldn’t ask for any better of a run than that, winning three conference titles in a row,” junior forward Dan Callen said.
Callen was a big reason why the Lions are KSAC champions again scoring 18 points while hauling down 17 rebounds.
“If I stay inside, that’s how I play,” Callen said. “Coach Joe (C-L head coach Joe Ferguson) won’t be happy if I stay outside. He’s happy if I stay inside. Listen to Coach Joe, and we will win the game.”
C-L’s defense also played a big role in the victory, as Union was held to 22.8 percent shooting. The Golden Knights were as cold as the temperature outside connecting on just 4 of 25 shots in the first half with one made second-quarter shot while falling behind 31-15 at halftime after being tied at 13 at the end of a quarter.
“Defense wins championships,” Callen said. “Coach Joe preaches that every day. Every day he tells us that.”
Taylor Smith also had a big game for the Lions, who have won four of the past five KSAC titles, scoring 17 points while hitting a pair of 3-pointers. It was Smith’s first KSAC championship after transferring from Clarion before the season.
“If he is open and he is in rhythm, it’s guaranteed to go down,” Callen said of his first-year teammate. “He’s an amazing shooter.”
Noah Rankin added a double-double for C-L as well with 11 points and 11 rebounds.
Cole Morris had a double-double to lead Union with 16 points and 10 rebounds, but Morris was bad from the floor hitting just 5 of 22 shots while starting the game 2 of 18 shooting.
The teams will meet again in the District 9 Class A quarterfinals next week at a site, day and time to be determined. Union is the fifth seed and C-L the fourth seed after the Lions lost a tiebreaking coin toss to Coudersport Friday morning.
“We didn’t even want them to have a chance,” Callen said. “Since we play them next week, we wanted to send a message.”
Story by Chris Rossetti
CLARION-LIMESTONE 64, UNION 39
Score by Quarters
Union 13 2 11 13 — 39
C-L 13 18 14 19 — 64
UNION — 39
Hank Murphy 1-6 3-6 5, Cole Morris 5-22 4-5 16, Gavin Hawk 2-4 2-2 8, Lucas Bowser 4-11 0-1 8, Dana Logue 0-2 0-1 0, Kolby Montgomery 01 0-0 0, Sutton Varner 0-4 0-0 0, Trey Miles 0-2 0-0 0, Hunter Johnson 1-1 0-0 2, Jesse George 0-3 0-0 0, Gavin Guntrum 0-1 0-2 0, Patrick Uarehsit 0-0 0-0 0.
CLARION-LIMESTONE 64
Julian Laugand 0-2 0-0 0, Noah Rankin 4-7 3-4 11, Ian Callen 4-8 0-0 8, Taylor Smith 6-13 3-4 17, Dan Callen 8-14 2-3 18, Connor Keth 1-1 0-0 2, Anthony Louder 0-0 0-0 0, Sam Leadbetter 0-0 0-0 0, Devin Beers 0-5 1-2 1, Bailey Wrhen 0-0 0-0 0, Travis Aites 0-1 0-0 0, Alex Acree 0-0 0-0 0, Christian Smith 2-3 1-2 7. Totals 25-55 10-15 64.
THREE-POINTERS — C-L 4-15 (T. Smith 2-7, C. Smith 2-3, Laugand 0-2, Rankin 0-2, Louder 0-1). Union 4-20 (Morris 2-9, Hawn 2-4, Murphy 0-2, Bowser 0-2, Miles 0-1, George 0-2).