Hoy’s 30 lifts Wildcats to opening night victory over Bellefonte, 82-77

By Bees O’Brien

MILL HALL, PA- Bellefonte was looking to avenge their District 6 playoff loss to Central Mountain in their opener against the Wildcats. Central Mountain and especially Hunter Hoy had other plans for the visiting Raiders.

Hoy would score a game-high 30 points and Brady Myers would add 15 points, as the Wildcats would fight off a furious fourth quarter Raider rally to escape their 2023-24 opener with a hard fought 82-77 victory.

Both teams didn’t miss a beat in the opening quarter. Central Mountain led by a narrow 16-15 score after one quarter. Hoy scored 12 of his points in the frame.

Hoy added 8 more points in the second quarter, which was part of a 25-22 advantage for the Wildcats. Central mountain’s slim 41-37 lead at the break would quickly swell.

Bellefonte struggled from the floor in the third quarter, as the Raiders would net just 10 points, to the Wildcats’ 20.

Central Mountain’s 61-47 lead heading into the game’s final quarter appeared to be safe, but then again this is high school basketball.

Bellefonte would explode for 30 fourth quarter points. Central Mountain’s 21 in the game’s final quarter would be just enough to close out the victory.

The Wildcats’ victory was a key win within District 6 5A, despite being the very first game of the new season.

Connor Foltz and Xavier Persun both chipped in 8 points to compliment the Hoy and Myers efforts.

Bellefonte had a trio of players reach double figures with Cox leading the way with 20 points. McConnell added 12 and Corman would net 10 in the loss.

Central Mountain (1-0) will now host the Bulldogs of Claysburg-Kimmel on Monday. That game will be live streamed on therecord-online.com

Bellefonte 15  22  10  30  77

CM             16 25  20  21  82

Bellefonte (77)

Hamilton 4 0-0 8, Vancas 2 0-0 4, Servant 0 0-0 0, Cox 6 8-10 20, Wertz 3 0-1 7, McConnell 5 0-1 12, Halterman 2 0-3 5, Tomasacci 2 2-3 6, Johnson 2 1-2 5, Corman 4 2-6 10, TOTALS- 30 13-26 78

3FG-4 (McConnell 2, Wertz, Halterman)

CM (82)

Longworth 2 0-2 4, Myers 6 3-8 15, Hoy 9 8-8 30, Mahoney 2 0-2 4, Foltz 2 3-6 8, Walker 2 0-2 4, Grenninger 1 1-2 3, Persun 3 0-0 8, Verrelli 2 1-3 5, TOTALS- 29 16-33 83

3FG- 6 (Hoy 4, Foltz, Persun)