The North Clarion varsity basketball team (Tionesta, PA) will host Union (Rimersburg, PA) in a home conference game on Friday, January 10, 2025, at 7:00 PM.

Here’s what you need Basketball to know:

What: Pennsylvania High School Basketball
Who: North Clarion vs Union
When: Friday, January 10, 2025
Time: 7:00. p.m. ET
Live stream: Watch Here

Union vs. North Clarion Basketball Matchup Analysis

As the Union and North Clarion varsity basketball teams prepare to face off on Friday, January 10, fans are gearing up for an exciting conference game. Both teams bring different strengths and challenges to the court, making this matchup a pivotal one for their seasons. Here’s a breakdown of the stats, records, and key players to watch.

Season Overview

Union (Rimersburg, PA)

• Overall Record: 2-6
• Conference Record: 1-1
• Home Record: 1-2
• Away Record: 1-4
• Win Percentage: 25%
• Points For (PF): 369
• Points Against (PA): 384

Union has struggled to find consistency this season, with a 25% win rate. While their offensive output averages 46.1 points per game, their defense has allowed more points than they’ve scored, a trend they’ll need to reverse to improve their standing.

North Clarion (Tionesta, PA)

• Overall Record: 4-4
• Conference Record: 2-2
• Home Record: 1-3
• Away Record: 3-1
• Win Percentage: 50%
• Points For (PF): 437
• Points Against (PA): 394

North Clarion has fared better this season, sitting at .500 in both overall and conference play. Their scoring average of 54.6 points per game indicates a strong offensive presence, although their defense has been similarly challenged.

Head-to-Head Recap

In their previous matchup on December 10, North Clarion narrowly defeated Union 47-46 in a thrilling non-conference game. The victory highlighted North Clarion’s ability to close out tight games, while Union demonstrated resilience despite the loss. With Union traveling to North Clarion’s home court this time, the stakes are even higher.

Team Comparisons

Scoring Averages by Quarter

• Union:
  Q1: 5.0 | Q2: 7.0 | Q3: 10.0 | Q4: 18.0 | Final: 46.1
• North Clarion:
  Q1: 14.0 | Q2: 12.3 | Q3: 14.7 | Q4: 10.7 | Final: 54.6

North Clarion tends to dominate the early game, particularly in the first quarter, while Union has shown the ability to rally in the fourth quarter. This disparity could make for an intriguing battle of momentum.

Key Statistics

• Union’s Team Stats:
  • Points Per Game: 46.1
  • Rebounds Per Game: 28.6
  • Assists Per Game: 9.4
  • Steals Per Game: 6.5
  • Blocks Per Game: 5.6
• North Clarion’s Team Stats:
  Detailed stats unavailable, but their scoring average (54.6) suggests a stronger offensive game overall.

Players to Watch

Union

• Trent Fleming (#1): Averaging 17.8 points per game, Fleming is Union’s primary offensive weapon.
• Gage Jordan (#35): A dominant presence in the paint with 12.4 rebounds and 4.6 blocks per game.
• Parker Bish (#2): Leads the team with 2.2 assists per game, helping to create scoring opportunities.

North Clarion

While specific player stats for North Clarion are unavailable, their balanced scoring in recent games suggests a team effort led by multiple contributors.

Common Opponents

Both teams have faced several common opponents, with mixed results:

• Cranberry Area:
  • Union lost 65-30.
  • North Clarion lost 78-45.
• East Forest:
  • Union won 59-30 and 64-14.
  • North Clarion won 75-17.
• Clarion Area:
  • Union lost 55-40.
  • North Clarion lost 52-35.

These comparisons reveal similar struggles against stronger teams, but both have been able to dominate against weaker opponents like East Forest.

Key to Victory

• Union: Capitalize on their strong fourth-quarter performance and tighten up their defense to limit North Clarion’s early scoring bursts.
• North Clarion: Use their offensive momentum in the first half to build a lead and sustain it through improved late-game defense.

Prediction

With North Clarion holding the edge in their last matchup and playing at home, they are slightly favored in this game. However, Union’s ability to rally late means this contest could once again come down to the wire.

Fans can expect a competitive game when these two teams clash at North Clarion on January 10 at 7 PM. Stay tuned for what promises to be another exciting chapter in this growing rivalry.