The Conemaugh Township Indians will head out on the road to square off against the Portage Mustangs at 7:00 p.m. on Friday. Conemaugh Township has been dominant on offense recently, as they've racked up an incredible 987 points over their last 15 games.
Even though Conemaugh Valley scored an imposing 57 points on Wednesday, Conemaugh Township still came out on top. Conemaugh Township narrowly escaped with a victory as the team sidled past Conemaugh Valley 60-57. For those keeping track at home, that's the closest win Conemaugh Township has posted yet this season.
Conemaugh Township's victory was a true team effort, with many players turning in solid performances. Perhaps the best among them was Jon Updyke, who scored 21 points along with seven rebounds and four steals. Updyke hasn't dropped below two steals for 14 straight games. Another player making a difference was Ethan Matera, who scored 17 points along with nine rebounds and seven steals.
Meanwhile, Portage's three-game losing streak came to an end on Wednesday. They breezed by Cambria Heights on the road to the tune of 68-34. For those curious, yes, that was the biggest win Portage has managed all season.
Portage's win was the result of several impressive offensive performances. One of the most notable came from Owen Gouse, who scored 17 points along with two steals. The team also got some help courtesy of Brennan Kunko, who scored 11 points along with five rebounds and four steals.
Conemaugh Township's victory was their third straight on the road, which pushed their record up to 14-2. As for Portage, they now have a winning record of 8-7.
This contest is one where the number of possessions is likely to be a big factor: Conemaugh Township have been smashing the glass this season, having averaged 32.1 rebounds per game. However, it's not like Portage struggles in that department as they've been averaging 25.8 rebounds per game. Given these competing strengths, it'll be interesting to see how their clash plays out.
Conemaugh Township was able to grind out a solid win over Portage in their previous meeting back in December of 2023, winning 71-60. The rematch might be a little tougher for Conemaugh Township since the team won't have the home-court advantage this time around. We'll see if the change in venue makes a difference.
