Penns Valley outmuscles Bald Eagle in ML showdown

By Kenny Varner Jr.
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Updated: February 24, 2021

By Kenny Varner

SPRING MILLS – With the high school basketball season going into its final days, the chance to secure a post season spot is within site and providing strong performance from the teams in the Mountain League especially.

Wednesday night, two teams that might be on the bubble battled with a chance to give itself a better chance.

Penns Valley and Bald Eagle were in a close contest until the middle of the third and then the Rams’ offense started to heat up, and the Rams never looked back winning a 42-30 victory over a very valiant effort by the Eagles.

Offensively, the Rams got a strong inside game from their man in the middle, John Aston.

Aston finished with a double-double performance of 11 rebounds and 16-point performance.

Zach Braucht did it from both ends of the floor, finishing with an 11-point effort, four blocks and five rebounds.

Kyle Niewinski rounded out the Penns Valley leading scorers with eight.

Bald Eagle was led by Ayden Jodon who muscled his way to a 10-point performance while teammate Kahale Burns was deadly from beyond three, hitting three in a 9-point evening.

Cam Watkins was strong in bringing down boards, posting nine while finishing with three points.

Going into the final stanza, Penns Valley led 31-20.

Bald Eagle opened the fourth on a triple by Alex Gavlock, cutting it to a 31-23 game.

Penns Valley up its lead to 10 on a shot by Aidan Culver.

Jodon’s two free throws dropped the deficit back to eight.

After the two free throws, Bald Eagle called a time out to set up its next plan of action.

Coming out of the break, the Eagles went into a full court press.

However, the Rams were able to break it and score on consecutive baskets, one by Braucht and one by Niewinski.

Penns Valley picked up a steal by Logan Crater and moved the ball up to court and found Braucht in transition for the easy lay-in, upping the lead to a 39-25 advantage.

Jodon hit a shot inside to cut it to a 12-point deficit.

From there, Penns Valley slowed the tempo and worked the ball around, taking valuable time off the clock.

From there, the Rams were able to allow three points en route to the 12-point victory.

In the first quarter, the Rams went right inside, feeding it to Alton in the middle. Alton did not disappoint as he picked up four unanswered points, making it 4-0.

Jodon cut the lead in half with 4:35 left as he hit a runner in the lane.

After a Penns Valley turnover, Bald Eagle tied it on an offense rebound and put back by Watkins.

Minutes later, Jodon gave his team the lead as he hit two from the foul line after being fouled in the act of shooting.

But the Rams would tie the game at six on a basket by Alton.

The score would stay that way as the first quarter buzzer sounded.

It would be quite a back and forth battle in the second

Penns Valley took the lead into the intermission as it outscored the Eagles 15-9 to go ahead 21-15 at the half.

The Rams continued to extend its lead in the third period, outscoring the Eagles 10-5 as the teams went into the final stanza.

In JV action. Bald Eagle took the contest 42-34.