The Hive Sports

by James Tate

In a game defined by grit, physicality, and a staggering 68 combined free throws, the Clearfield Falcons held off a determined Northridge rally to earn a 54–48 Region 5 victory on the road Friday night. Clearfield closed the door at the line, hitting 10 of 12 free throws in the fourth quarter, including a flawless 8-for-8 from seniors Izzy Wyaskett and Brighton Bernards in the final minute to secure the win.

Wyaskett led the Falcons with 17 points, while Bernards added 13, helping Clearfield improve to 11–7 overall and 6–1 in Region 5. Bernards’ 13 points marked a career high for the veteran four‑year contributor, who appeared in her 86th varsity game and continues to be a steady, reliable presence on both ends of the floor.

Northridge junior Rihanna May poured in a game‑high 19 points, battling through foul trouble to keep the Knights within striking distance. After losing to Clearfield by 28 earlier in the season, Northridge pushed this rematch to the wire, pulling within three points in the final minute before the Falcons’ clutch free‑throw shooting proved decisive.

Rihanna May

Balanced start helps Falcons build early edge

The opening quarter made it clear this matchup would be nothing like the teams’ first meeting. Both sides attacked the paint early, trading tough baskets around the rim and matching each other’s intensity.

Clearfield spread the scoring across its lineup, getting early contributions from multiple players. Junior guard Ciara De La O scored four points, while Wyaskett, Bernards, Amoree Scholer, and Abbie Thayne each added two as the Falcons established a balanced offensive rhythm in the first quarter.

Northridge leaned on May, who scored six points in the first quarter and set the tone for what would become a standout night. Her early aggressiveness helped the Knights keep pace in a tightly contested, physical opening frame.

Clearfield opened the second quarter with a 14–10 lead, but Northridge quickly tightened the gap. Junior Morgan Hale knocked down a jumper, and May followed with a layup to pull the Knights within one, 15–14, at the 5:24 mark. Moments later, May picked up her third foul with 5:07 remaining and was forced to the bench, shifting the Knights’ offensive rhythm.

Even without their leading scorer, Northridge found production from Maureen Pulu, Hale, and Abbi Frost, keeping the game within a single possession. After the Knights trimmed the deficit to one, Clearfield steadied itself and closed the half on an 11–7 run, fueled by defensive stops and timely scoring. Wyaskett added five points in the second quarter, helping the Falcons take a 26–21 lead into halftime.

Ciara De La O

Falcons dig deep as Knights fight to the finish

The third quarter opened with a technical foul on the Falcons’ bench, and Northridge sophomore Lauren Terrando made one of the free throws to cut the lead to 26–22. But Clearfield quickly answered with six straight points, pushing the margin to double digits and regaining control.

Senior Jayla Kearns made her presence felt during the run, battling for tough rebounds and earning trips to the foul line as the Falcons’ pressure began to wear on the Knights. With 1:22 left in the quarter, Wyaskett buried a three‑pointer to extend the lead to 37–26.

Northridge continued to compete, but missed opportunities at the line, just 6 of 16 in the period, prevented the Knights from closing the gap. Clearfield ended the quarter ahead 41–29.

Northridge opened the fourth with renewed energy, scoring the first four points on a jumper from Hale and a layup by Frost to cut the lead to 41–33. But Kearns answered again, drilling a three‑pointer and adding two free throws to push the Falcons ahead 46–33 with 5:28 remaining.

The Knights kept fighting. Pulu scored four straight points to trim the margin to 46–37, and when May returned to the floor, she erupted for 11 points in the final three minutes, showcasing her athleticism and scoring versatility.

But every Northridge surge met the same response: Clearfield’s seniors at the line. Wyaskett and Bernards combined to go a perfect 8-for-8 in the final minute, sealing the Falcons’ gritty road win.

For a matchup that had the Falcons as the heavy favorites, the Knights proved they’re closing the gap, but on this night, the Falcons’ poise under pressure made all the difference.

photos courtesy of James Tate