The C boys dressed just seven players when they took on host Le Sueur-Henderson on Friday (January 2), and while the Giants were out front most of the first half, the Clippers led by four at the break en route to a 31-25 triumph.
The Giants fired up the scoreboard with a three and then put in a pair of freebies for a 5-0 lead. Luke Heldberg’s basket was the first for the Clippers. Miles Tomaszewski and Heldberg each added a free basket to pull the Clippers within a point.
LSH responded with a jumper, but after the Clippers pulled down four offensive rebounds, Tomaszewski managed to get a shot through the net. Tomaszewski followed with Cleveland’s only basket from three-point land for a 9-7 Clipper advantage.
After the Giants hit a layup, Wyatt Krenik scored with two minutes left in the half to give the Clippers a lead they would never relinquish. As the first half wound down, Tomaszewski grabbed a defensive rebound and took it down court for a layup, and the Clippers, holding off the Giants for 75 seconds, went into the locker room leading 13-9.
Kiptyn Coon twisted for a bucket to start the second half. The Giants canceled it, but, up from the eighth-grade team, Jack Mons made a basket to stretch the Clipper lead.
Later, after Tomaszewski scored twice more from the floor, Coon took a Heldberg pass in for a bucket, and Zander Linder bagged a jumper to put the Clippers in front 27-15.
Not throwing in the towel, the Giants hit a three and then kept on the offensive boards for a seven-point run. Down the stretch they made another three, but Tomaszewski and Jack Anderson sent enough free shots through the rim to seal the Clipper triumph.
With 14 points, Tomaszewski led all players. Heldberg added five points, and Coon had two second-half baskets for four points. Krenik, Linder, Mons and Anderson each chipped in two points.
The Clippers made eight of 15 foul shots. LSH made a trio of threes and two of four foul shots.
The Clippers return to action on Friday when they travel to Sherburn to take on Martin County West.
Above: Jack Mons takes the ball down court in his first C game.
