On Monday, January 9th, the Warriors conquered Curwensville 87-46 at home. The West Branch Boys Basketball team has been rolling through teams this season, with a record of 7-0 in the Moshannon Valley League and 9-2 overall. They have had a solid offensive force scoring more than 65 points in all of their games except for the two losses.
The night started with a new tradition for West Branch, Teacher Appreciation Night. The players chose to recognize teachers who have helped them through the years. They were selected if they pushed the players to be the best on the court, be better people, or simply if the player liked them in class. The players chose the following teachers. Mr. Dennis McCamley, Mrs. Moslak, Mrs. Hudish, Mrs. Deborah Galley, Mr. Mason, Mr. Lester Smeal, Mr. Koleno, Mr. Catanzaro, and Mr. Carr. Thank you to all teachers who support our student-athletes, as it goes a long way. The work of teachers does not go unnoticed.
After the players shared the court with West Branch staff, they were ready for tip-off. It was a low-scoring game in the first quarter, with both sides having big blocks and steals around the basket. The Golden Tide started with a 19-15 lead at the end of the first quarter. They would soon lose the lead due to turnovers. Junior Isaac Tiracorda capitalized on errand passes, racking up 12 steals throughout the game. The Warriors continued to fight inside the three-point arc, making nine buckets in the second quarter. Holding the Tide to only nine points in the quarter, the Warriors were up 33-28 at halftime.
The third quarter started as a defensive battle between the two teams. Both teams struggled to find the basket, but the Warriors still outscored the Tide 13-8 in the quarter. Coach Clark said that “our defensive rotations and our rebounding” were significant factors of the win, and “we left a lot of points off the scoreboard last night, but still scored a lot in our transition.” Their transition points were high, as the Tide finished the game with 31 turnovers, and the Warriors’ defense capitalized on it. The Warriors extended their lead in the fourth quarter and finished the game with a win of 67-46.
Joel Evans and Isaac Tiracorda both finished the game with a double-double. Sophomore Owen Koleno led the team with points by dropping 20. Kyle Kolesar contributed to the Warrior defense with a couple of blocks and 11 rebounds.
The Warriors are back in action on Wednesday, January 11th, against the Harmony Owls. Junior varsity begins at 6:00 p.m., with varsity following at 7:30 p.m. The theme for the student section is neon, so make sure to wear bright colors!
