Coming off a pair of losses at a holiday tournament, the C-squad boys didn’t have much trouble with visiting Lester Prairie on Tuesday, easily beating the Bulldogs 32-15.
Sam Ternes scored the game’s first basket. Alex Kortuem followed up with a three before the Bulldogs got on the scoreboard with a two-pointer.
From there, Braeden Smith spun a Nathan Brink assist in from the lane for the first two of his 17 points. After another Kortuem three, the Clippers were in front 10-4. From there, it was all Smith, and the Clippers had a cozy 20-10 lead at the intermission.
Tanner Simonette opened the second half with a three. Lester Prairie only managed one basket from the floor and three foul baskets from there. With seven more Smith points and a Simonette two-pointer, the Clippers cruised to the triumph.
Smith dumped in eight two-point baskets and three freebies. Kortuem had a pair of threes for six points. Simonette sunk a two and a three for five points. Ternes put in a basket from the floor.
The Clippers were three of eight from the foul stripe. The Bulldogs had no threes and made seven of 16 free shots.
During a tournament in Madelia on December 29, the C Clippers fell to JWP 36-23 and to Immanuel Lutheran 48-38.
The Clippers trailed JWP 17-13 at the break.
Smith finished with nine points. Simonette had six points. Kortuem posted five points. Mason Kluntz had three points.
Smith dropped in a pair of threes. Kortuem had one three. The Clippers made two of eight free throw attempts. The Bulldogs made two threes and were two of six from the foul line.
IL was in front 21-16 at halftime.
Smith led the effort with 22 points. Kortuem and Ternes each added six points. Nathan Seeman and Brink each contributed a basket. A dozen of Smith’s points came from behind the arc. Kortuem put in two threes.
The Clippers were six of 15 from the foul line. Immanuel put in a trio of threes and was eight of 17 in free throw shooting.
The C boys will be back in action on January 12 when they host Mankato Loyola.
Above: A pair of LP defenders close in on Tanner Simonette.
Braeden Smith lengthens for a shot.
Mason Kluntz and Kasyn Zuehlke chase after a runaway ball.
Zayden Linder eyes the basket.
Dominic Anderson drives between two defenders.