Gavin Treon

CLAYSBURG — Entering the new season, Claysburg-Kimmel’s boys basketball team returns its entire rotation from last season.

The Bulldogs’ first test of the season Friday night was the same one that ended their season last winter — a revamped Portage squad — and it was a strong night on the bench that was the difference for them.

Specifically, it was sophomore Gavin Treon who led all scorers with 19 points as the Bulldogs won their season opener over the Mustangs, 52-46, in the Claysburg-Kimmel Tip Off Tournament.

“He’s playing really, really well. He’s had two really good days of practice,” Claysburg-Kimmel coach Mike Harris said of Treon. “We’re doing alright, the guys are working hard. The first game, you see a lot of good things, a lot of bad things. Everybody’s got to relax and just keep getting better.”

The Mustangs — who returned just two lettermen and no starters this year — got the first big run of the game as Llehson Walker knocked down a floater for his team’s first lead of the game. That helped Portage take an 11-9 lead as he scored a team-high 17 points.

In the second quarter, Treon went to work as he scored 11 of his points, including a pair of 3-pointers. Claysburg took a 26-23 lead going into the half.

“There were times in the game where we got the stops we needed, but we didn’t finish the plays and end up getting the rebound,” Portage coach Jade Zatek said. “We’re returning no starters. We’re learning how to play together; it will all come together.”

Friday’s contest was Zatek’s debut as the Mustangs’ new head coach.

During the second half, for as much of a comeback Portage made at times, Claysburg immediately wiped it out.

Around the 4-minute mark of the third, Tyson Burkett knocked down a jumper, which cut the deficit to 31-30.

That bucket was later answered by a Blake Kulick 3-ball before the Mustangs cut the Bulldog lead back to 35-34 after three.

During the fourth, Brayden Haney picked up a couple of buckets on his way to scoring 15 points. Treon took over midway through the fourth with a runner as the Bulldogs held off a Mustang rally.

“We knew they were going to be pretty good coming into today’s game,” Zatek said. “(Brayden) Haney is a good player, and they returned four other starters. We knew what they were going to do, and they just came out on the winning end.”

Braylin Walker was also in double figures for Portage as he chipped in 10 points.

Harris reminded his team that this is one step in the process.

“I told them there’s at least 21 games on our schedule,” he said. “Portage played their guts out. They hung around. That’s why I wanted to play Portage.”

Claysburg-Kimmel will now host Bucktail in the championship at 5:15 p.m. Saturday night following the Bucks’ 56-34 win over Curwensville. The Mustangs will play in the consolation against the Golden Tide.

PORTAGE (46): Caldwell 1 0-0 2, Bobolsky 2 1-2 7, B. Walker 3 2-2 10, L. Walker 7 2-3 17, Burkett 3 0-0 6, Kick 1 1-2 4. Totals: 17 6-9 46.

CLAYSBURG-KIMMEL (52): Haney 4 7-9 15, C. Treon 1 0-0 3, Cor. Walter 3 2-2 8, Kulick 2 0-0 5, Col. Walter 1 0-0 2, G. Treon 8 1-2 19, Knisely 1 0-0 3. Totals: 19 10-13 52.

SCORE BY QUARTERS

Portage 11 12 11 12 – 46

Claysburg-Kimmel 9 17 9 17 – 52

3-point field goals: Portage 6 (Bobolsky 2, B Walker 2, Kick, L. Walker), Claysburg-Kimmel 4 (C. Treon, Kulick, G. Treon 2)

Records: Portage (0-1), Claysburg-Kimmel (1-0).

Officials: Clark Adelman, Jack McDougal, Bill Pfeffer