By Kenny Varner
WINGATE – A late fourth quarter Bald Eagle run fell just short of finishing in a comeback victory, falling to Huntingdon 53-49 Tuesday night at Bald Eagle Area High School.
The Bearcats man in the middle, Jack Henney proved to be a thorn in the side of the Eagles as he finished with over half the Bearcats total points en route to a double-double effort of 30 points and 14 rebounds.
Bald Eagle’s late comeback attempt was led by the clutch rebounding of Tyler Serb as he finished with eight second half rebounds and a 12-point offensive effort.
Blaze Angellotti led the team with 14 points.
“I thought we battled late in the game. But early in the game I thought we came out a little stagnant,” said Bald Eagle coach Kris Glunt. “ After a great week like last week we might have had a little bit of a hangover which I understand but not going to accept it.”
Bald Eagle found itself trailing 34-31.
Huntingdon would take the first possession of the quarter and find Ty Boyer for a triple to up the Bearcat lead to 37-31.
But the Eagles bounced back when Angellotti went right to the hoop and was fouled in the process, making it an old fashioned three-point opportunity. He sank the free throw, cutting it 38-34.
Jack Foster opened back to a 6-point game with a floater in the lane.
Angellotti got the ball back and took the ball once again but was fouled on the miss. He made 1-of-2.
The Bearcats followed with a 5-0 run to increase the Huntingdon advantage to 10.
But the Eagles weren’t going to go away as they used a shut down defense putting the contest back to a 4-point deficit thanks to two strong steals and buckets by Tre Greene with 3:12 left.
Huntingdon would take and add to its lead, upping the lead to an 11-point advantage.
But once again, the Eagles would claw their way back into striking distance.
Again it would be the strong inside game of Greene, that would help put the contest to within two, 49-47.
However, with the game in the line, the Bearcats and Henney would secure clutch rebounds, holding off the Eagles en route to the 4-point victory.
Earlier in the contest after trailing 13-6 after one, the Eagles came on strong in the second quarter, cutting the deficit to just 23-21 at the half.
In the JV contest, the Eagles fell 61-38.