Folks in the North Tier know all about the talent at Clairton High School.
The Bears beat the record-setting Port Allegany Gator football team 44-12 in the PIAA football semis, part a state-record 63-game winning streak.
It’s now Smethport’s turn to take a crack, as the Hubs and Bears square off in the second round of the PIAA Class A boys tournament today.
And while it’s a different sport, it’s the same group of players for Clairton.
But that doesn’t phase Smethport coach Dan Zeigler’s group, which is eager to keep proving people wrong.
“They love to be the underdog and prove people wrong,” said Zeigler of his team. “They have great determination, great heart and they want to make a name for themselves.”
As for the matchup itself, it will be the size and strength of Smethport against the athleticism of the Bears.
Clairton point guard Bryon Clifford, a 1,000-point scorer, leads the Bears, but Zeigler knows that he’s not the only guy who can put up big numbers. That group includes the triumvirate of Tyler Boyd, Titus Howard and Terish Webb, all three of whom are committed to Pitt to play football.
“Their point guard (Clifford) is probably their best player,” Zeigler said. “He’s extremely quick, a good shooter and he hustles. But it seems like anyone can drop 20 points for them at any given time.”
By contrast, Clairton coach Matt Geletko, knows his squad has to slow down Smethport’s Zach Smith and Clay Schuler.
“Smith is very impressive,” Geletko said. “He’s a very capable player who we have to try and contain and Schuler does a good job of getting them into their offense.”
Defensively, Clairton will play mostly man-to-man. Their tallest starter is the 6-3 Howard, with Smethport boasting the slight height advantage with the 6-4 Smith, 6-3 Nate Wilber and 6-footer’s Dylan Mott and Dario Caminite.
Ryan Stratton, Ryan Corbett, Caminite and Schuler’s defense in particular on Clairton’s guards will be critical.
“They’re quick, they’re athletic and we’re bigger and stronger,” Zeigler said. “They like to get up and down the court and we like to be patient. It’s going to come down to who’s going to impose their will on who and who can control tempo.”
Clairton is a team that seems to be peaking at the right time. Geletko noted that he hasn’t played with a full team until recently because of football (all of the basketball players were on the state championship team) and various injuries. As such, he thinks they are currently playing their best basketball.”
“We had a good run through districts (beating Lincoln Park in the semis),” Geletko said. “That Lincoln Park game, we played darn near perfect. We had to fight through some fatigue early on, but this is a good group of kids that’s all been together and like each other. The team chemistry is very good.”
He also knows that when you get to this level, everyone is good.
“To go on a 21-game winning streak is very impressive,” he said of Smethport. “Both teams are used to winning and that goes a long way.”
For Smethport, Zeigler knows they are prepared as best they can, and its time to go out and play.
“We’ve been practicing pretty well and the boys are confident,” he said. “We know what to do, now it’s time to go out and play.”
Smethport (23-3) vs. Clairton (17-6)
(Clarion Universty, 7:30 p.m.)
How they got here: Smethport – beat Bishop Guilfoyle, 62-56; Clairton – beat Cochranton, 76-48
Winner gets: Shade-Johnsonburg winner
Projected starters: Smethport – G Clay Schuler, G Dario Caminite, F Zach Smith, F Nate Wilber, F Dylan Mott; Clairton – G Bryon Clifford, G Terish Webb, G Tyler Boyd, F Titus Howard, F JoJuan Bray
