SMETHPORT — As you read this on 12/13/14 consider the numbers are also lining up favorably for the Bradford Area High School boys’ basketball team after the Owls posted a 61-27 non-league victory over Smethport on Friday.
Since a season-opening loss to Olean the 3-1 Owls have now won three straight and have matched their total win output from the disappointing 3-19 campaign of 2013-14.
“These guys are feeling good about that (win streak) but they’re not satisfied,” said Brian Hobbs, Bradford head coach. “We just needed to get some confidence and get rolling.”
The Owls were rolling downhill at the outset when Ryan Boyer registered half of his team’s points in a 10-0 run. Brandon Charnisky contributed a reverse layup and Matt Denniscompleted a traditional 3-point play for the 10-point cushion with five minutes left in the first quarter.
“The ball movement was good,” Hobbs recalled. “They (Hubbers) like to pack it in and make you shoot from the outside.”
A 13-footer by Andy Price at the 4:37 mark finally erased the goose egg on the home side of the scoreboard and later Smethport’s Bryce Nelson buried a 3-pointer from the top of the key, but the Owls still enjoyed a 16-5 margin after one.
The Hubbers (0-4) benefited from seven points by Caleb O’Neal in the second stanza, but the Owls utilized triples from Boyer, Andrew Bacha and Tyler Nuzzo to lead 31-14 at the intermission.
“We don’t score a lot of points and I don’t have a go-to guy, so we have to spread it around,” said Jim Thomas, Smethport head coach.
After the break freshman Andy Pantuso tallied seven points to fuel a 12-0 spurt that provided a 45-16 discrepancy with 2:13 showing.
“He (Pantuso) continues to play well and keep his composure,” Hobbs observed.
“We got a little sloppy and we’re able to score anyways, and that’s because of our defense.”
Leading 47-19 after three, Hobbs rested the starters with about six minutes remaining and Mitch Faulkner responded with a layin while frosh Deondre Terwilliger drilled a pair of trifectas.
“Deondre came off the bench and hit a couple of 3’s, and Mitch came in and played well,” Hobbs offered.
Pantuso had 15 points and Boyer added 13 for the Owls, who as a team were a perfect 9-for-9 from the foul line.
“That’s a rarity,” Hobbs admitted. “We only got to the line nine times, but we shot it well.”
Meanwhile Thomas appreciates the opportunity for his Class A Hubbers to square off against the AAA Owls.
“Playing up is a benefit,” Thomas declared. “It gave our kids a challenge and made them work hard.”
While the Hubs travel to Port Allegany on Monday and then host Coudersport on Wednesday, Bradford will play two at home and then hit the road.
“We have a tough week with DuBois Central (Monday) and Warren (Wednesday), and then we go to Eisenhower (Saturday),” Hobbs stated.
BRADFORD (61)
A. Pantuso 6-3-3-15, Terwilliger 2-0-0-6, Bacha 1-0-0-3, Faulkner
1-0-0-2, Dennis 1-1-1-3, Paterniti 1-0-0-2, Nuzzo 2-4-4-9, Charnisky
4-0-0-8, Boyer 5-1-1-13, Totals 23-9-9-61
SMETHPORT (27)
Palmer 1-1-2-3, DeLuca 0-5-6-5, Price 2-0-2-4, O’Neal 3-1-4-8, Nelson
1-1-2-4, Greene 0-2-4-2, Tanner 0-1-2-1, Totals 7-11-22-27
Three-point FGs: Bradford — Terwilliger 2, Boyer 2, Bacha, Nuzzo;
Smethport — O’Neal, Nelson
JV Score: Bradford 52-5
