EMPORIUM — If you’re wondering how tight the race atop Class A in District 9 will be this season, look no further than Saturday’s matchup between Johnsonburg and Cameron County.
Jburg entered the contest at 2-0, which included a win over the only team to top the Red Raiders, Elk County Catholic, but left with its first loss of the season, a 48-44 decision.
The result gives each of the top three teams in Class A — ECC, Cameron County and Johnsonburg — one loss. With ECC’s win over Bradford on Saturday, the three teams share a 14-3 record.
Cameron County (6-1) jumped out to a 28-21 halftime lead before the Rams (2-1) trimmed that advantage to just three, 38-35, entering the fourth quarter. But the Red Raiders managed to hold on for the win.
Caden Beldin led all scorers with 16 points, while Hayden Brown and Gavin Morton each chipped in 11 for the Red Raiders.
“The energy before the game was great, and we came out and played great defense, especially down the stretch,” Cameron County coach Marcus Brown said. “A season-low three turnovers was the difference maker.”
Johnsonburg was paced by 15 points from Gave Watts and 14 points from Cameron Stelene. Eric Christoff chipped in 10.
AT EMPORIUM
Johnsonburg (44)
Gabe Watts 7 0-0 15, Cameron Stelene 7 0-0 14, Eric Christoff 3 2-2 10, Freeburg 1 0-0 3, Douglas 1 0-0 2. Totals: 19 2-2 44
Cameron County (48)
Caden Beldin 7 2-5 16, Hayden Brown 4 2-2 11, Gavin Morton 5 0-0 11, Guisto 3 0-1 7, Allison 1 0-1 3. Totals: 20 4-9 48
Johnsonburg 9 21 35 44
Cameron County 12 28 38 48
Three-point goals: Jburg 4 (Christoff 2, Freeburg, Watts), CC 4 (Guisto, Brown, Allison, Morton); Total fouls: Jburg 13, CC 2; fouled out: None.
Elk County Catholic 60, Bradford 30
ST. MARYS — Two different Crusaders, Mark Kraus and Mason McAllister, scored 19 points to lead ECC to a big win.
Elk Catholic (6-1) led 20-7 after one quarter, 31-20 at halftime and then grew that lead as the second half wore on. Bradford (2-1) was held to just two points in the final quarter.
The Owls picked up 10 points from Jarid Wilmoth, who nailed a trio of 3-pointers, and seven points from Cam Austin.
AT ST. MARYS
Bradford (30)
Jarid Wilmoth 3 1-2 10, Gleason 2 0-0 4, Austin 3 0-0 7, Dixon 2 0-0 5, Ruolo 2 0-0 4. Totals: 12 1-2 30
Elk Catholic (60)
Mark Kraus 9 0-0 19, Wolfe 1 0-1 2, Jansen 2 2-2 6, Jacobs 0 2-2 2, DePrator 2 0-0 4, Mason McAllister 6 7-10 19, Straub 0 1-2 1, Breindel 2 3-3 7. Totals: 22 15-20 60
Bradford 7 20 28 30
Elk Catholic 20 31 48 60
Three-point goals: Bradford 5 (Wilmoth 3, Austin, Dixon), ECC 1 (Kraus); Total fouls: Bradford 14, ECC 6; fouled out: None.
Austin 46, Port Allegany 38
AUSTIN — Jackson Glover scored 28 points as Austin pulled away in the fourth quarter for its first win.
The teams battled back and forth throughout and were tied at halftime and again entering the fourth. But the Panthers (1-1) outscored Port 12-4 in the final eight minutes to win the game.
The Gators (0-2), which were playing for the first time in two weeks, were paced by Drew Evens’ 11 points. Ty Guilds and Trey Kleitz each scored 10 points.
AT AUSTIN
Port Allegany (38)
Drew Evens 4 1-3 11, Trey Kleitz 4 1-2 10, Ty Guilds 5 0-0 10, C. Moses 1 3-6 5, B. Moses 1 0-0 2. Totals: 15 5-11 38
Austin (46)
Jackson Glover 11 3-4 28, Hooftallen 2 3-5 7, Lucas 3 0-0 6, Crawford 1 2-3 4, Rees 0 1-2 1. Totals: 17 9-14 46
Port Allegany 11 19 34 38
Austin 10 19 34 46
Three-point goals: PA 3 (Evens 2, Kleitz 1), Austin 3 (Glover); Total fouls: PA 15, Austin 10; fouled out: None.
Coudersport 56, Smethport 38
COUDERSPORT — With his team up just two at halftime, Hayden Keck poured in 18 second-half points, including three 3-pointers in the third quarter, to help Coudersport pull away for the win.
Coudersport (4-1) led 26-24 at halftime before Keck’s big third quarter helped the Falcons take a 42-31 lead into the fourth. He finished with a game-high 28 points.
Smethport (1-4) picked up 14 points from Richie McDowell and nine points from Layne Shall.
AT COUDERSPORT
Smethport (38)
Richie McDowell 6 0-0 14, Shall 3 2-4 9, Ognen 2 1-2 7, Burdick 2 1-5 5, Howes 0 1-2 1, Higley 0 1-2 1, Nolte 0 1-2 1. Totals: 13 7-17 38
Coudersport (56)
Hayden Keck 11 2-4 28, Easton 1 0-0 3, Keglovits 2 2-4 6, Furman 4 0-2 9, Kightlinger 1 1-4 3, Kellert 2 1-1 5, Ruter 1 0-0 2. Totals: 22 6-15 56
Smethport 13 24 31 38
Coudersport 14 26 42 56
Three-point goals: Smethport 5 (Ognen 2, McDowell 2, Shall), Coudy 6 (Keck 4, Easton, Furman); Total fouls: Smethport 13, Coudy 19; fouled out: None.
St. Marys 39, Ridgway 26
ST. MARYS — St. Marys’ defense suffocated Ridgway to the tune of seven first-half points en route to a 13-point win in each team’s season opener.
The Flying Dutchmen (1-0) picked up nine points apiece from Mitchell Reiter and Luke Lasko, and led 11-2 after the first quarter and 18-7 at half. St. Marys maintained the lead down the stretch for the win.
Ridgway (0-1) was led by Dan Park’s 14 points. He hit a pair of threes.
AT ST. MARYS
Ridgway (26)
Dan Park 3 6-7 14, Bon 0 2-2 2, Miller 0 1-2 1, Allegretto 1 4-5 6, Sorg 1 1-1 3. Totals: 5 14-17 26
St. Marys (39)
Mitchell Reiter 4 1-4 9, Luke Lasko 4 0-0 9, Bille 0 4-4 4, Housler 3 1-2 7, Walker 0 3-4 4, Caskey 1 0-0 3, Schlimm 2 0-1 4. Totals: 14 9-15 39
Ridgway 2 7 12 26
St. Marys 11 18 23 39
Three-point goals: Ridgway 2 (Park 2), SM 2 (Lasko, Caskey); Total fouls: Ridgway 15, SM 14; fouled out: Miller (R)
GIRLS
Smethport 37, Oswayo Valley 12
SMETHPORT — After trailing 6-5 to end the first quarter, Smethport held Oswayo Valley to just six points the rest of the way to achieve its first win of the season.
Smethport (1-7) led 15-6 at halftime and then 20-10 entering the fourth. The Lady Hubs finished the game on a 17-2 run.
Elizabeth Hungiville led all scorers with 15 points, while adding six rebounds. Sabrina Tanner (2 points) pulled down seven boards and notched eight steals, while Coryn McClain scored six points and grabbed five rebounds.
Oswayo Valley (0-1) was paced by Jadyn Brabham’s five points.
AT SMETHPORT
Oswayo Valley (12)
Jadyn Brabham 2 1-3 5, George 1 1-2 3, Mesler 2 0-0 4. Totals: 5 2-5 12
Smethport (37)
Elizabeth Hungiville 6 3-4 15, Abby Lutz 4 0-2 10, Goodman 1 0-0 2, Tanner 1 0-1 2, Nelson 1 0-0 2, McClain 3 0-0 6. Totals: 16 3-7 37
Oswayo Valley 6 6 10 12
Smethport 5 15 20 37
Three-point goals: OV 0, Smethport 2 (Lutz 2); Total fouls: OV 4, Smethport 7; fouled out: None.
