Article written by Jack Gleckler, Chillicothe Gazette
WILLIAMSPORT − Casey Cline and Brody Clark are a difficult duo to match in the Scioto Valley Conference.
The pair have been the driving force behind a Westfall offense that caught fire during the final stretch of its regular season schedule. Over its last four games, Westfall has averaged 77 points per game and outscored its opponents 308-212. Not to mention its three highest-scoring games of the entire season came during that span. Its hot streak appeared at the right time. The postseason is on the horizon, and Westfall's sectional semifinal against Piketon looms ever closer.
Much of the Mustangs' recent offensive boom comes thanks to Cline and Clark. The two rank among the top five scorers in the Scioto Valley Conference, with Cline averaging 16 points per game and Clark picking up 14 points per night. The duo, whether intentionally or not, dictate the rhythm of the Mustangs offense. If one or both of them hit their stride, the rest of the rotation is quick to match their pace.
"Brody being able to shoot the ball allows other teams to lock on him, and that leaves me open," Cline said. "It's more synchronized shots. It helps out a lot, and then Blaec (Bugher) gets going, and that's when our bigs get going."
Not to mention the two each provide Westfall with an irreplaceable presence beyond the arc. Neither are shy when faced with an open look at long range. Clark is second in the SVC for total 3-pointers made with 46, while Cline's 37 tie him for the third-most in the conference.
Clark relishes opportunities to showcase his 3-point shooting. He's built that repertoire since he first picked up a basketball and developed it further once he waded into high school ball. But it never clicked for the junior until a game against Madison Plains during his freshman season. Clark hit five 3-pointers in that game, and since then he's dived headfirst into refining his shots beyond the arc.
"My freshmen year, I was small," Clark said. "I wasn't really built or anything, so I was like, 'Shooting's the only thing I've got.' Then it just kind of carried on with me."
Cline, much like Clark, has an innate confidence in his skills from 3-point range. He stuck out during his own freshman season with the Mustangs due to his knack for 3-point shooting and aptitude on the defensive end. As he progressed through his sophomore and junior years, however, Cline hammered away at his mid-range capabilities and worked to round out his skillset.
The results speak for themselves. Cline and Clark have each tallied 20 points or more in at least three of their last five games, and their 3-point shooting has only trended upward ahead of sectionals. Clark even helped Westfall break a program record for most 3-pointers in a game after draining eight of his team's 16 3s against Huntington on Feb. 3.
What makes it all the more impressive is that Clark was fresh off of a minor injury at the time. He'd injured his right hand in late December, and he'd been forced to wear tape while it healed. His production slowed down a bit, and he only saw limited action in a game against Unioto in early January, but Clark returned to his usual form once the tape came off.
It just so happens that he had it removed just before Westfall's game against Huntington.
"Taking off the tape from my hand injury helped a lot," Clark said. "I was shooting pretty bad with the tape on. I took it off and now I've hit like 16 3s in three games."
Since that win over Huntington, Cline and Clark have led Westfall to one of its best seasons in recent memory. It locked down third place in the SVC standings, and its four straight wins to close out the regular season provided a much-needed shot in the arm come tournament time.
With Cline and Clark at the forefront of their offense, the Mustangs are prepared to take on whatever comes their way in the postseason. They're riding a wave of confidence, and Cline and Clark are determined to keep that wave rolling.
"I just hope continuing on the road we keep the confidence," Cline said. "If we have the confidence, we can beat anyone on the road."