DuBois Beavers basketball clings on in 37-36 win over Punxsy Chucks
Of The Spirit
PUNXSUTAWNEY — The DuBois Beavers’ Joey Foradora hit an important three-pointer on Friday evening in Punxsutawney, as it gave his team the lead with less than 40 seconds left in the game against the Chucks.
The Beavers then switched to defense to hold on for the 37-36 win in a game that could have gone either way.
With that, DuBois moves to 12-3 in the season, while the Chucks come to 6-8.
Al Pasternak put in two points late in the fourth quarter for the Beavers to chip away at the Chucks lead before Foradora and DuBois defense secured the win.
Punxsy was up 34-28 entering the final quarter, but the Beavers outshot them 9-2 in that timespan to even out the strong third quarter the Chucks had.
The Chucks had outshot DuBois 18-11 in the third quarter, with senior Gabe Kengersky putting in nine points to lead that charge, while Noah Weaver, Donnie Neese and Kyle Nesbitt contributed as well. Foradora hit three threepointers for the Beavers in the third quarter, and early on, Nesbitt hit a three to help set the tone of the quarter for the Chucks.
The theme of the evening was truly that of a close battle between two familiar opponents, as both teams kept it within a point or two for almost the entire game. The Beavers narrowly outshot the Chucks 9-8 in the first quarter, while both teams added in eight each in the second.
The Beavers’ Chooch Husted opened the evening with a lay-up, and halfway through the first quarter, DuBois was ahead 5-0 before Weaver, Neese and Nesbitt answered back.
In the second quarter, Zach Presloid hit a three to see the Chucks take a 11-9 lead, but with under four left before the half, Drew Gudalis hit a three for the Beavers. However, Ryen Heigley hit a three for the Chucks to give them a 16-14 advantage.
With under 10 seconds left before halftime, Ryan Kovalyak put in two points to tie it up before a free throw saw the Beavers go into the break ahead 17-16.
Foradora led the Beavers with 15 points from five three’s, while Husted added in nine. Pasternak put in seven points, while both Kovalyak and Gudalis scored three apiece.
Nesbitt scored 13 points for the Chucks, while Kengersky added in nine and grabbed six rebounds. Weaver put in six points and had three rebounds, and Neese scored four and grabbed four rebounds. Heigley had three points and grabbed six rebounds, and Presloid pitched in three.
In JV action, the Chucks bested the Beavers 28-26.