Photos by Tim Weight
By Kenny Varner

BELLEFONTE – It was a Friday night Laurel Highlands instant classic as the Bellefonte boys basketball team and Penns Valley locked up at the Red Raiders’ gym.

The game would go down to the final seconds as the Rams would survive a last second Bellefonte shot that rimmed in and then out, giving Penns Valley a nail biting 60-59 victory.

“It’s the little things. When you turnaround and play bad man-to-man defense and you allow people to penetrate. I told them at halftime that if we stop dribble penetration then we’re going to have a chance to win this,” said Bellefonte coach Rick Hall. “It’s the little things. We had kids that had lay ups they didn’t do what I call a power lay up. They didn’t a finger roll and they missed it. So I’m going to tell them every play matters. That’s how we got beat.”

This game was not for the faint f heart as the match up would have the two exchange numerous lead changes and small leads by each before the thrilling final stanza.

Bellefonte’s effort was led by Ryder Hamilton and his 16-points. Teammate John Servant followed up with 15 while Liam Halterman rounded out the double digit scorers with 12. Peyton Vancas hot three triples on his way to nine points.

Noah Patel lit things up for the Rams on the night, hitting from beyond three, popping mid range jumpers and was fearless going down the middle through traffic for a game-high 24 points. He also finished with five rebounds.

Fletcher Ironside was just as active in the win posting 15.

Rounding out the double-digit scoring for Penns Valley was Spencer Althouse with 12.

“I thought our guys stayed with it. We didn’t give up. It was good to see us just battle,” said Penns Valley coach Rob Irwin. “We needed every second of the game.  I thought Bellefonte played really tough. But we had some guys really stepped up.”

Going into the fourth quarter, Bellefonte led by seven, 49-42.

Hamilton got his team started as he was fouled when shooting. He hit both shots, upping the score to 51-42.

Patel got his team’s scoring started with a runner in the lane, hitting the bucket in traffic.

On the next Bellefonte possession, Halterman got the ball and went inside for the bucket.

After forcing the Rams to turn the ball over, Penns Valley went into a full court press, trying to force turnovers of their own.

Fletcher Ironside cut the Red Raiders lead to six as he got behind the Bellefonte defense and hit the bucket with 3.36 left.

After the bucket, Penns Valley called a time out.

Coming out of the break, the Rams forced a turnover. Patel took the ball again right to the heart of basket where he was fouled after hitting the bucket. He made the free throw, cutting the deficit to three, 54-51.

With 2.27 to go in the game, Penns Valley took the time out.

Seconds later, the Rams forced another turnover, and Patel hit a bucket cutting it to a one point Bellefonte advantage.

Halterman extended his team’s lead back to three as he drove the ball down under for the clutch bucket.

Penns Valley took the lead as it went on a 6-0 run. Patel had two points while Fletcher Ironside had four points.

The Red Raiders called a time out with 46.3 left.

With 26 ticks left, Vancas hit a pressure filled triple, putting his team in the lead.

Ironside would silent the Bellefonte crowd as he once again hit a tough runner, making it a 60-59 advantage with 20 seconds left.

Bellefonte had one last chance to pick up the win as they were able to get the ball to Vancas. Vancas was forced to shoot an off balanced shot that looked like it had a chance but it spun in and out, preserving the win for Penns Valley.

Both teams scored eight in the first quarter.

They continued the to mirror each other into the half as the two were tied at 24 as they went into the intermission.

Bellefonte lit it up in the third quarter as it was able to outscore the Rams 25-18 and looking at a nine point lead going into the final st

Penns Valley  60, Bellefonte 59

PV  8 16 18 18 – 60

BE. 8 16 25 10 – 59

Scoring: PV –  Alex Parsons 1 0-0 2, Noah Patel 10 2-4 24, Fletcher Ironside 5 5-10 15, Spencer Althouse 4 3-4 12, Carter Ironside 2 0-0 5, Carson Webster 1 0-0 2. Totals 23 10-18 60. BE –  Ryder Hamilton 7 2-4 16, Peyton Vancas 3 0-0 9, John Servant 6 2-2 15, Liam Halterman 6 0-0 12, Quinn Eckley Jones 1 1-2 3, Gracen Coons 2 0-0 4. Totals 25 5-8 59.

Played but didn’t score: PV – Julian Battaglia 0 0-0 0. BE –   Logan Gibson 0 0-0 0.

Three-point shots: PV –  Patel 2, Althouse, Carter Ironside. BE –   Vancas 3, Servant .