Coudersport boys dodge bullet
Falcons' hopes of unbeaten season still alive

Senior Colton Corey has been a versatile performer in helping Coudersport open its season with an 8-0 record. The Falcons return as hosts of the annual holiday tournament on Thursday and Friday. Paul Burdick Photo

There's talk among fans of an extremely rare undefeated regular season for the Coudersport High School boys' basketball team. It has happened only three times in school history.

Those hopes were nearly dashed last Friday night, as coach Chris Fink's Falcons (8-0) escaped from St. Marys Public with a 57-56 overtime win.

Derek Burdick canned a long three-pointer just before the buzzer to tie things at 49- 49. In the extra period, Brett Whitman and John Hau led the way with four points apiece as the visitors held on.

Coudersport caught a break just before halftime when a St. Marys player got disoriented after receiving the inbounds pass and laid the ball into his own team's basket for two Falcon points.

Hau led a balanced Coudersport attack with 14. Eric Babcock and Burdick each added 11. Whitman finished with eight and Colton Corey contributed seven.

John Hau has been averaging about 18 points and nine rebounds per game as a steady performer for coach Chris Fink's Falcons. Paul Burdick Photo

On Monday night in Troy, Hau pulled down 15 rebounds and scored 19 points to lead Coudersport to a 54-39 win. Corey (11 points) and Burdick (10 points, 6 assists) were also double-figure scorers.

Blair Heimel returned from a two-game absence to score 22 points and grab two rebounds in Thursday's 78- 44 win at Galeton. Hau scored 20 points and had nine rebounds and four blocks. Corey put in a pair of treys in scoring 16 points, while Burdick had six assists.

Fink's boys are back in action as hosts of the Coudersport Holiday Tournament Thursday and Friday, Dec. 27-28.

They open Northern Tier League play January 3 with a home game against the Panthers.