Bellefonte runs out of time after late rally; falls to DuBois

By Kenny Varner Jr.
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Updated: January 8, 2021

By Kenny Varner

BELLEFONTE – One thing that might be said about this year’s Bellefonte boys basketball team when looking back at the season will be that they refuse to quit battling no matter what the score.

Down by eight points numerous times in the second half and at one point 11, the Red Raiders battled back in the final stanza to pull within two with less than a minute left.

But in the end, a stingy DuBois team made the free throws they needed to capture the 65-60 victory Friday night in the season opener for both teams.

First year coach Rick Hall was glad to get the season started and we proud of how his team fought in the contest, especially the second half.

“It’s awesome for the kids. They spent all this time and had to sit around and have all these zoom meetings and tape breakdown. Just for them to be able to step out on the court and play, they were excited and I was excited,” said Hall.” This was the first time I’ve seen them in game situations . It’s great for high school sports.”

Going into the fourth quarter trailing 45-40, Bellefonte came out firing as Davis Corman hit a runner in traffic, cutting it to a 3-point contest.

After a turnover, the Red Raiders got to within a point when Nick Way got free in transition and laid it up in and in.

DuBois extended the lead back to three on an inside shot by Jordan Summers, making it a 47-44.

A quick triple by Blair Eckley-Jones, knotted the game at 47.

Eckley-Jones had 18 points in the contest.

The Beavers extended back to three on a triple with 4:42 left.

On the following trip down for the Red Raiders Ty Kroell got open from outside a nailed a triple of his own, retying the game.

Back rallied the Beavers as they went on a 8-0 run to up their lead to 58-50.

But Bellefonte battled back once again as Corman cut the scoring run scooping the ball off the court and put it up.

Defensively, the Red Raiders forced a run of their own going on a 5-0 run.

Trailing 63-57, a clutch triple by Gannon Brungard cut it to just a 63-60 game with 2.9 seconds.

That would be all the scoring Bellefonte would have time for as they fell just short.