Mirror photo by Patrick Waksmunski Clearfield head coach Nate Glunt talks with Braison Patrick during Central Pa. practice.

The Clearfield boys had a 21-4 season this year, which was the most games the Bison have won since the 2016-17 season.

It was due in large part to Laurel Highlands Athletic Conference MVP Braison Patrick and another 1,000-point scorer in Evett Maines that drove success for Clearfield.

Tonight, the dynamic duo of Patrick and Maines, along with Bison coach Nate Glunt, will be leading the Central PA boys in the nightcap of the Altoona Mirror Classic.

Although Glunt and Patrick were able to be at Wednesday’s practice for the game at The Summit, Maines was unable to be there as he was being inducted into the National Honor Society.

It was one of Glunt’s best seasons in his 12 years roaming the sidelines at Clearfield. He is also an assistant coach for the football and track and field teams at Clearfield.

“I was really appreciative of being asked to coach this game. I’ve heard about this game for a long time. Cole Miller (2023 Clearfield graduate) played in it, and now getting a chance to have two players in it, we’re really fortunate.

“To have one player who is the school’s all-time leading scorer, and another 1,000-point scorer, and just two great kids — to be able to coach them one more time, I was not going to pass up this opportunity.”

On its way to a 21-4 record, Clearfield picked up a District 9 Class 4A title with a 37-19 win over St. Marys. The Bison also picked up wins over successful LHAC teams in Hollidaysburg and Bishop Guilfoyle in taking the eastern division regular-season championship.

Clearfield lost to Forest Hills in the Laurel Highlands playoffs. After beating St. Marys in the D-9 championship, the Bison fell to Obama Academy, 57-34, in a PIAA subregional.

“It was just an unbelievable season,” Glunt said. “Two 1,000-point scorers to go along with my son being here, and a lot of great younger players coming up through. I think it was either the fifth or sixth time that a Clearfield team has won 21 games in a season. We’re so fortunate.”

“It was very successful,” Patrick said. “We had a good record. It just kind of didn’t end how we wanted it to. We thought we could have made a better run in the (state) playoffs, but we won districts.”

Patrick, who is also a baseball player at Clearfield, averaged 18.4 points per game this season on the way to the LHAC MVP. He finished his career with 1,334 points as Clearfield’s all-time leading scorer.

“I didn’t really know about (getting conference MVP) until last week. It was mesmerizing,” Patrick said.

Maines may have had an even better season with 19.1 points per game.

Count Patrick as one of the many excited to be able to play in one more high school basketball game.

“I’m obviously going to miss it, but doing this one more time, it’s amazing,” he said.

Glunt also has a few kids he’s excited to coach for the first time, but also honored to be the coach.

“They’re all good kids,” Glunt said. “I know most of their coaches, and you can see how they play and they’ve had success because they’ve done it the right way.”