By Kenny Varner

WINGATE – Two teams very familiar with each other met Wednesday at the Bald Eagle Area gymnasium as the Bald Eagle boys basketball team welcomed in Laurel Highlands foe Penns Valley.

The young Bald Eagle team battled strong, especially in the second half, but the Rams were too tough on this night as Penns Valley took home the 57-42 victory.

“Penns Valley really makes things pretty difficult. We tried to ashljust to that tonight. We did some pretty nice job with some things and some things we really need to work on,” said Bald Eagle Area coach Kris Glunt. “I thought the effort was there for the most part tonight.”

Leading the way for the Rams in the wins was Spencer Althouse with 21 points. Fletcher Ironside chipped in with 12 while teammate Carter Ironside finished with nine.

“It was nice to see us come out with some energy. That alone just helps our guys. No matter what we’re doing or who we are playing they have that and you just got to have that,” said Penns Valley coach Robert Irwin.

Bald Eagle got a strong showing from James Cowan. Cowan notched a double-double posting 18 points, 10 rebounds and three blocks.

Kane Wolf finished with nine points, all were from beyond the arc.

Penns Valley started off strong. Carter Ironside took the team’s first possession and launched a successful triple.

Bald Eagle battled right back as they got to Cowan inside on the easy inside bucket.

The Rams went right back, getting the ball underneath as well. Carter Webster finished off the possession with an easy bucket of its own.

After a Bald Eagle turnover, Webster got the ball once again and was fouled when shooting. He hit one-of-two, making it 6-2.

Cowan brought his team back pulling down an offensive put back, cutting it to two.

Althouse scored his first points of the game on a steal and a lay up with3:52 left in the opening period.

Again, Cowan continued to help his team keep pace as he hit 2-of-2 after being fouled while shooting.

But the Rams finished off the first with a 5-0 run. Fletcher Ironside hit on a runner in the lane and then a triple by Althouse to make it a 13-6 advantage as the first quarter buzzer sounded.

The Rams picked up its offensive pace as it would extend its lead to 32-15 as the intermission got under way.

Center Alex Parsons got his team going as he hit on a turnaround jumper, putting his team up by nine.

Wolf hit his first triple bring the deficit down to six.

Althouse took the lead back to eight as he scored in transition.

Cowan again got a strong bucket inside, making it a 17-11 deficit before the Rams would explode going on a 6-0 run.

Hosband cut the scoring run as he launched a triple, cutting back into the Rams lead.

But a 5-2 run, gave the Rams a 32-15 advantage.

Bald Eagle came out of the intermission with renewed energy as the two teams went toe-to-toe as Penns Valley would only outscore Bald Eagle 17-14 heading into the final stanza.

The two teams continued their battle deep into the fourth, but the Penns Valley lead was just too much for the Eagles to come back from as they fell 57-42.

Penns Valley  57, Bald Eagle Area 42

PV        13 15 17 12 – 57

BEA       6   9 14 13 – 42

Scoring: PV –  Fletcher Ironside 5 1-2 12, Carter Ironside 3 0-0 9, Carson Webster 2 1-2 5, Noah Patel 1 0-0 2, Spencer Althouse 9 2-3 21, Alex Parsons 1 0-2 2, Austin Fetterolf 2 2-2 6. Totals 23 6-11 57. BEA –  Jackson Millwood 1 2-2 4, Luke Hosband 1 2-6 5, Kane Wolf 3 0-0 9, James Cowan 8 2-2 18, Wade Habovick 0 2-2 2, Sam Clark 0 2-2 2, Wyatt Spackman 1 0-0 2. Totals 14 10-14 42.

Played but didn’t score: PV –  Julian Battaglia 0 0-0 0. BEA –  Grady Boone 0 0-0 0, Wyatt Klinefelter 0 0-0 0, Ethan Hoover 0 0-0 0.

Three-point shots: PV – Carter Ironside 3, Fletcher Ironside, Althouse. BEA – Hosband, Wolf 3,