Bellefonte tops Juniata in Non League hardwood battle

By Kenny Varner Jr.
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Updated: January 13, 2022

MIFFLINTOWN – Juniata struggled against the defensive pressure as well as trying to contain Blair Eckley-Jones who led Bellefonte to a 64-30 victory over the Indians by the final score of 64-30 in a non-league boys basketball game Wednesday night.

The Indians faced heavy pressure from the Red Raiders right away with Bellefonte attacking with a full-court press. At first, Juniata appeared as though it could handle the press because as soon as the Indians found an opening, they attacked it and found themselves driving to the basket.

Even when Juniata didn’t make its shots, the Indians still was able to get Bellefonte into foul trouble as the Red Raiders committed five fouls for the period. The tag team of GG Ortiz and Max Lauver combined for all of the 12 Juniata points scored in the first quarter.

But then in the second quarter, the Red Raiders were upping the intensity on offense as well as defense. Led by Eckley-Jones who was dominant in the period attacking both inside the paint and hammered home a pair of three pointers for the frame. In fact, Eckley-Jones scored 13 of the 19 total points scored for the Red Raiders.

On the defensive side of the ball, Bellefonte didnát allow Juniata any room to breath as the Indians only were able to score a point for the entire second quarter. Which was a free throw made by Austin Derr. Bellefonte ended up taking a 33-13 lead at the break.

The Red Raiders showed a more balanced attack on offense in the third quarter as they found scoring options from four different players who scored at least a basket in the period.

Jacob Condo who was scoreless for the entire first half, carried the load for Juniata in the second half scoring all of his seven points in the second half of the game. And his seven points were the most for the Indians as they scored a total of 17 points for the second.

But it was Ortiz and Lauver who led the Indians on the offensive side of the ball with both scoring a team of eight points each.

Eckley-Jones put on the finishing touches of his monster game during the fourth quarter of the evening. Eckley-Jones scored 11 of the 16 points scored by the Red Raiders for the frame. Eckley-Jones finished the night with 33 total points.

Juniata falls to (7-4) overall and will look to rebound against cross-county rival East Juniata as the Indians will host the Tigers on Friday.

Bellefonte 64, Juniata 30
JUNIATA
Caleb Smith 0 0-0 0, Seth Laub 0 0-0 0, Ebel Gonzales 0 0-0 0, Jacob Condo 3 0-0 7, GG Ortiz 2 3-7 8, Luis Caraballo 0 0-0 0, Grant Reinhold 1 0-0 2, Makih Hunt 0 0-0 0, Evan Leach 1 0-0 2, Austin Derr 1 1-4 3, Max Lauver 3 0-0 8, Wyatt Stoner 0 0-0 0. Totals: 11 4-11 30
3-point goals: Condo, Ortiz, Lauver 2
BELLEFONTE
Nick Way 4 0-0 10, Luke Fisher 0 0-0 0, Ty Kroell 0 0-0 0, Alex Ebling 2 1-2 5, Davis Corman 0 0-0 0, Dom Capperellg 1 0-0 2, Cole Crissman 1 0-0 2, Derek Cox 0 0-0 0, DáAndre McCaslin 5 0-0 12, Blair Eckley-Jones 13 5-8 33. Totals: 26 6-10 64
3-point goals: Way 2, McClasin 2, Eckley-Jones 2
Score by quarters
B 14-19-15-16 – 64
J 12-1-9-8 – 30