Sports

Clarion men’s basketball ends season with loss

The Clarion men’s basketball team ended its playoff hopes last Wednesday, Feb. 23, when it fell to the Vulcan’s of California University of Pennsylvania at Tippin Gymnasium.

However, Clarion had a chance to end the season on a high note as they traveled to Erie to take on Gannon University this past Saturday, Feb 26.

This would be the last chance for seniors Lloyd Harrison, Jamar Harrison, Mike Sherry and Julius Berry to wear a Golden Eagles uniform and represent their school.

“This is a bittersweet ending, and I wish next year’s team the best of luck,” said Berry.

Last time these two teams faced off, the Golden Eagles were on an 11 game win streak at home. Gannon would not let that faze them as the Golden Knights won by nine points,
76-67.

This time around, the Golden Eagles would not be playing in front of the Clarion faithful.

Coming into the game Lloyd Harrison was averaging 18 points per game, and he did not disappoint in his last game as a Golden Eagle either, scoring a game-high 24 points.

Jamar Harrison also had a great night getting a double-double with 18 points and 11 rebounds.

Jamar Harrison had a dynamic senior year, reaching an average of 19.3 points per game.

These two were only a portion of this year’s Golden Eagles team, that finished with a 15-11 overall record.

Junior center Paul McQueen and junior power forward Quintus “Bud” Teer also had a huge impact.

McQueen ended the season with 10.7 points per game average.

Teer, in his first year with the Golden Eagles, ended the season with 11.8 points per game average, and also averaged 10.5 rebounds per game making him the first player since
Marvin Wells in 1988 to average a double-double in a season.

This was the first Clarion men’s basketball team since 1977 to have four players end the season with double digit point averages.

“We stared out the season hot, just couldn’t finish it out,” Lloyd Harrison said.

All this would still not be enough for the Golden Eagles in this match-up.

The Golden Knights were the team that had the hot hand, with four of their players ending the game in double digits.

This really gave the Golden Eagles no hope in winning their last game of the season.

Senior forward Travis Brannen matched Lloyd Harrison with 24 points.

Stephen Battle also was in double figures for the Golden Knights with 16 points.

The 81-68 win was not enough for the Golden Knights to get into the PSAC West playoff race.

IUP finished first in the conference with a 22-5 record. Behind them in second is Mercyhurst with a 20-7 record.

In third place with a record of 20-9 is Slippery Rock.

Slipping into the last playoff spot with a 15-12 record was CalU.