Crusader junior high team opens season with a win

It has been a few years since Elk County Catholic High School fielded a junior high boys basketball team for ninth graders, but on Tuesday the program picked back up where it left off as the team opened their 2023-2024 season with a 40-16 road win over Altoona.

“Our players came ready to play today,” said ECC junior high head coach Wee J Fernan. “They have worked hard throughout the preseason, and they continued to do that today. They have been very encouraging of each other and cohesive throughout the preseason, and they continued these trends today. They have improved substantially in a few areas throughout the preseason, and those improvements were on display today. We are impressed with this group’s openness and willingness to improve their skills, habits, and teamwork. We are looking forward to the rest of our season.”

All eight members of the ECC team made it into the scoring column, with Matthew Gilmore leading the squad with 14 points.

Xander Frederick was the leading scorer for Altoona with seven points.

ECC took a 12-2 lead in the first quarter, with Gilmore and Franco Williams each making a pair of twos and Gideon Cronk and Chandler Nunamaker each adding a bucket. Eli Cover had the lone bucket for Altoona.

A 10-3 advantage in the second quarter gave the Crusaders a 22-5 halftime lead.

Gilmore once again made a pair of twos while Luke Songer, Wyatt Brem, and Williams each added a field goal. A three-point play by Frederick accounted for all of Altoona’s points in the quarter.

The Crusaders outscored Altoona 8-5 in the third quarter to go up 3010. Jacob Ruffner led the way for ECC in the frame with four points on a pair of twos, and Gilmore and Brayden Barnett each made a bucket. Frederick made a field goal and a pair of foul shots for Altoona, and Darius Garner went one-for-two from the line.

In the fourth quarter, ECC scored 10 points while Altoona scored six, giving the Crusaders the 40-16 win. Gilmore and Songer each made a pair of twos and Brem added a bucket. Logan Coldwell hit a three for Altoona, Cover made a field goal, and Garner went one-fortwo from the foul line.

Now 1-0 on their season, the Crusaders are scheduled to host Titusville in a 4:30 p.m. game at ECCHS on Friday.

ECC 40

Luke Songer 3-0-0-0-6, Brayden Barnett 1-0-00-2, Jacob Ruffner 2-00-0-4, Matthew Gilmore 7-0-0-3-14, Gideon Cronk 1-0-0-0-2, Chandler Nunamaker 1-0-0-0-2, Wyatt Brem 2-0-0-0-4, Franco Williams 3-0-0-0-6. Totals 20-0-0-3-40.

Altoona 16

Xander Frederick 2-03-3-7, Treylon Payne 0-0-0-0-0, Darius Garner 0-0-2-4-2, Myzick Clemons 0-0-0-0-0, Logan Coldwell 0-1-0-0-3, Bradley Musselman 0-0-0-0-0, Eli Cover 2-0-0-0-4, Richard Pfeiester 0-0-0-0-0, Blaine Lanzendorfer 0-00-0-0. Totals 4-1-5-7-16.

Score by quarters

ECCHS 12 10 8 10 40 Altoona 2 3 5 6 16