By HUNTER O. LYLE
ST. MARYS, PA – Entering the final quarter of their District 9 Class 2A semifinals matchup against Clarion, just eight minutes separated the Port Allegany boy’s basketball team from their first championship appearance in over 20 years. Eight minutes and a 12-point deficit.
Throughout the fourth quarter, the Gators scratched and clawed and chipped away at the lead, having their most effective and productive performance of the night, however, their comeback went in vain. The gap on the scoreboard proved too much to overcome as Port’s D9 drive ended with a 52-46 loss to Clarion.
As both teams arrived at St. Marys Area High School, the chosen neutral ground which would decide who earned a spot in the Super Saturday lineup, one squad entered looking to finally crest the mountaintop while the other looked to exploit their highest peak in years.
Over the past few seasons, the Bobcats had made a name for themselves. After reaching the championship stage in 2024, then in Class A where they were ultimately dispatched by Elk County Catholic, Clarion moved up into the 2A bracket, immediately finding success as they once again secured a shot at a banner. However, once again, they were defeated.
Port, on the other hand, was finally seeing some daylight. Breaking free from their North Tier League rut, the Gators ascended to the throne this year, earning their first league championship in 25 years as well as a second consecutive sixth seed in the D9 playoffs. Beating Coudersport in the quarterfinals, Port just had to get past Clarion to have their first shot at a title since 2005.
“We’ve watched a ton of film on (Clarion.) We knew their guards were quick, we knew we matched up with them well, size-wise, so we just tried to prepare for that,” said Port Allegany head coach Kyle Babcock. “Against Moniteau, (Clarion) knocked down a ton of threes so we had to respect that while trying to keep them from penetrating inside.”
Off of the jump, it seemed like the Gators’ momentum could carry them there.
Starring down the Bobcat’s 2-3 zone, Port attacked via committee. Moving the ball with fluid passes and equally swift player movement, the Gators quickly found routes to the rim, starting with a layup from Liam Hawver. Alongside their elusiveness in the halfcourt, Port’s grit put them ahead early, as Jarrod Funk tacked on two more points with a steal and fastbreak score before Hawver ripped down an offensive board for two more points, putting the Gators up by six.
Meanwhile, Clarion struggled to find the same success. Bogged down by the pressure of Port’s man-to-man clamps, ways to the basket were hard to come by and as their shots fell ineffective, the Bobcats failed to add to their side of the scoreboard for the first five and a half minutes. However, once they saw the ball go in, all the wrinkles quickly were ironed out.
Looking up at an 8-0 lead, the Bobcats finally ended the drought with a drive to the rack from Dylan Smail. Coming away with a foul and extra point, Clarion sprang to life. Playing with new found energy, they began crisply pushing the pace, creating open looks for themselves as they outraced defenders. As their jumpers began to sink as well, everything seemed to be flowing in the Bobcats direction and, in the final two minutes they quickly knotted the game, heading into the second tied at 8-8.
“We’ve done it a few times this year where we come out strong, score eight or nine points out of the get-go, and then our scoring slows down after that,” said Babcock. “I don’t know why. I don’t know if we get too comfortable or if we just tire out too soon. We kind of quit doing the things that are working for the first couple minutes and lately we just get into a slump.”
Port’s dry spell, which lasted for the last two minutes of the previous period, followed them into the next.
Despite coming away with several second chance opportunities, layups and jumpers alike refused to fall. Eventually, at the five minute mark, Funk ended the drought with a post hook, which in effect kicked off a sporadic, tick-for-tack scoring barrage. As the half wound down, both teams swapped baskets and trips to the free throw line, never finding more than two or three point cushion. While their offense was staying in stride with the Bobcats, however, nothing came easy for Port.
Whereas the entire Gators roster seemed to be involved in the first, Port’s approach to the second boiled down to their strongest scorers. With the Bobcats energy still coursing through their defensive presence, the Gators began struggling to find ways to split the sea. Instead, they focused on forcing the ball into the middle, where Funk and Amell carried the charge.
“I think Clarion did a good job adjusting. We put in a new offense before coming into this game and I think they did a good job adjusting to it,” said Babcock. “They kind of shut down our guards up top and we tried to force it inside to Jarrod and Isac a little bit, more than we would have liked to.”
In the final minutes of the first half, Port’s offense again broke down. After knotting the game at 15-15 from a spin in the post from Amell with around three minutes remaining, turnover trouble would take its toll, forcing several empty possessions in consecutive order. Clarion, on the other hand, jumped at the opportunity to find their separation. Ending the half on a 6-0 run, the Bobcats held a 21-15 lead as they walked into the locker room.
Unlike in the second quarter, the Gators’ stumbles resumed out of the break. Although they were able to avoid a complete drought – Amell opened the half with a jumper off the block – inconsistencies plagued their offense. Up against the Bobcat’s break-neck tempo, Port’s attempt to retaliate centered on quick, one-and-done jumpers that failed to hit their mark, let alone chip into the lead. As their rushed offense continued to unfold, turnover gave way to another Bobcats scoring run, ballooning the lead to beyond double-digits as they approached the final quarter of play.
Having just eight minutes to salvage their D9 title berth, the Gators rose to the occasion. After forcing an initial Bobcats’ miss, Nick Wilfong sparked some hope with a pull-up 3-pointer that brought Port back to within single digits. Immediately after another defensive stop, Funk cut along the baseline for two more points and although Clarion responded with a drive to the hoop themselves, Wilfong shifted the momentum back to the Black and Orange with another triple, followed by a block from Funk.
As the Gators continued to build steam, Clarion began to lose it. Settling into their largest lull since the first quarter, the Bobcats watched as Port quickly drew back to within reach of the lead, outscoring Clarion 16-8 through the first six minutes.
“We started to play quicker, and that’s something we wanted to do at the start of the game. We wanted to play fast and push the ball and in the fourth quarter we didn’t have a choice,” said Babcock. “Wilfong started shooting, which we’ve been trying to get him to shoot more. He knocked down a couple threes, Jarrod hit a couple, Isac was getting to the hoop. We were just playing more free. It was do or die and we started playing faster and things were clicking.”
Continuing to dig themselves out of the hole, the Gators ultimately closed the gap to just two points, however, their efforts had placed them deep within the final minute, down a possession and without the ball. Looking to contain Clarion and hopefully eke out a steal, Port’s full-court-press persisted. In the heat of the moment, however, they left open a crack.
As Clarion inbounded the ball, the Gators down court inched forward, allowing a Bobcat to race beyond the defense and receive a hail mary outlet pass. Despite being fouled, Clarion sank both free throws, widening their lead to four points with just 18 seconds left.
Although the Gators clutch time offense came away with a pair of scores in the final seconds, they couldn’t beat out the clock and after a few intentional fouls and a few more Bobcat free throws, their playoff run had come to an end.
Operating in tandem, Amell and Funk tied to lead all scorers on the night, each finishing with 17 points a piece. Wilfong ended with eight points while Julian Kaple finished with two.
While their shot at a D9 banner dissipated with the loss, Port’s season is not quite over. On Friday, the Gators will play in the third place match, a do-or-die contest to decide which team will be the third and final to make it to the Pennsylvania Interscholastic Athletic Association (PIAA) State Tournament. Port will play either Moniteau or Redbank Valley on Saturday, at a neutral time and place yet to be decided.
“I’m proud of these guys. I’ll always be proud of them. We got our first NTL title in 25 years, I just hope they’re not satisfied with that,” said Babcock. “We’re a better team. We won our first playoff game in several years and I just don’t want guys to settle. We’re a pretty good team, I think.”
AT ST MARYS
Port Allegany (46)
Amell 8 1-2 17, Funk 7 1-2 17, Wilfong 3 0-0 8, Kaple 1 0-0 2, Hawver 1 0-0 2. Totals: 24 2-4 46
Clarion (52)
Frederick 4 5-5 15, Smail 4 3-5 13, Burford 3 2-3 8, Watterson 3 0-0 6, Miller 2 0-0 6, Hooks 1 0-0 2, O’Neill 1 0-0 2. Totals: 18 10-13 52
Port Allegany 8 15 24 46
Clarion 8 21 36 52
Three-point goals: PA (4) Funk 2, Wilfong 2, CL (4) Frederick 2, Miller 2; Total fouls: PA 13, CL 7; Fouled out: None.
