Boys basketball: Clearfield breaks skid, holds off Roy for big region win
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- Clearfield’s Elijah Dankwa, right, moves the basketball while Roy’s Tyrece Holbrook defends on Wednesday, Feb. 5, 2025, in Roy.
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- Roy High’s Jesse Jones, right, tries to post up against Clearfield’s Bode Davis on Wednesday, Feb. 5, 2025, in Roy.
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- Clearfield High’s Jaxson Bishop, left, surveys the floor against the defense of Roy’s Devin Nelson (12) on Wednesday, Feb. 5, 2025, in Roy.
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- Roy High’s Colby Frokjer, center left, throws a pass over Clearfield’s Elijah Dankwa (2) while Roy’s Tripp Randall (22) and Clearfield’s Bode Davis (32) trail the play on Wednesday, Feb. 5, 2025, in Roy.
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- Clearfield’s Jack Galvan (50) drives against contact from Roy’s Jesse Jones on Wednesday, Feb. 5, 2025, in Roy.
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- Roy High’s Tripp Randall hauls in a rebound in a game against Clearfield on Wednesday, Feb. 5, 2025, in Roy.
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- Clearfield’s Bode Davis (32) and Roy’s Tripp Randall (22) contest the jump ball to start a game Wednesday, Feb. 5, 2025, in Roy.
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- Roy High’s Colby Frokjer (1) rises to shoot against Clearfield on Wednesday, Feb. 5, 2025, in Roy.
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- Clearfield High’s Jack Galvan (50) throws a pass in a game against Roy on Wednesday, Feb. 5, 2025, in Roy.
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- Roy High boys basketball players huddle before a game Wednesday, Feb. 5, 2025, in Roy.
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- Clearfield’s Elijah Dankwa handles the basketball in a game against Roy on Wednesday, Feb. 5, 2025, in Roy.
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- Clearfield’s Elijah Dankwa, left, defends Roy’s Colby Frokjer (1) on Wednesday, Feb. 5, 2025, in Roy.
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- Clearfield’s Jack Galvan secures a pass in a game against Roy on Wednesday, Feb. 5, 2025, in Roy.
ROY — Clearfield has been there before.
Close games but losses, unable to get over the hump.
Wednesday against Roy, in a high school boys basketball game, the Falcons had another chance to fold but instead came through in flying colors for the win.
The Falcons withstood a fierce Roy comeback in the second half and captured a classic 70-64 Region 5 road victory.
“We’ve been working hard in practice; we’ve had some close games and just came through today,” Clearfield sophomore guard Elijah Dankwa said.
Clearfield (3-17, 1-10 Region 5) held a 32-23 halftime lead and expected — and got — Roy’s best punch in the third quarter.
Roy put 23 points on the scoreboard but the Falcons answered with 21 and still led 53-46 after three.
Dankwa scored 10 points in the period, including a pair of 3-pointers.
“Coach (Scott McLaughlin) let us know to come out strong, so we prepared and played good defense, but better offense,” Dankwa said. “My teammates were finding me when I was open and I got to the free-throw line and the basket.”
But Roy (6-14, 4-7) wasn’t done and opened the final frame on a 5-0 run. It was 53-51 on a steal and layup by Colby Frokjer.
Dankwa made two free throws at the 7:04 mark to give the Falcons some breathing room, but the Royals finally pulled even at 57 on a fast break by Tyrece Holbrook with 5:18 left.
Senior forward Michael Creel then softly lofted a pump-fake basket inside and Clearfield went up for good with 4:23 to go.
“I feel like we had to score and get the lead back, and finally get a win,” Creel said.
Creel and Dankwa both hit crucial free throws down the stretch as Roy kept battling back to no avail.
“Just be confident; we shoot free throws in practice every single day and that helps with confidence,” Creel said. “We’ve had adversity in the past in games and this time we were able to punch back.”
Roy also won the fourth quarter 18-17 but the Falcons were not to be denied on Wednesday.
Dankwa felt the Falcons were prepared to push back the Roy rallies and break a 14-game losing streak.
“We do a lot of situational stuff in practice; work hard and we’re ready for it,” Dankwa said.
Creel (six field goals, 2 of 2 from the line) and Dankwa (five buckets, 3 of 4 from the stripe) both scored 15 points to lead the Falcon attack.
Frokjer netted a game-high 22 points for the Royals on 10 baskets, including a pair of 3s. Jesse Jones (13 points) and Boston Greenhalgh (11 points) also had double digits for the Royals.
