Despite offensive and defensive catalyst Braeden Smith only on the floor in the first half, the JV boys came back from a five-point halftime deficit to down host Le Sueur-Henderson 49-44 on Friday (January 2).
Miles Tomaszewski’s three down the stretch along with Clipper free shots, including two after a LSH technical foul, made the difference.
Smith drove the lane for a bucket and bagged a pair of free-throws to put the Clippers in front 4-0. The Giants scored twice, but Smith parked a fadeaway jumper, and Gavin Karels plopped in a running jump shot from the paint for an 8-4 Clipper advantage.
Later, Karels deposited a three, Smith stole at half court and put in a layup, and Alex Kortuem buried a three that put the Clippers in front 16-8.
But the Giants scored 19 of the next 25 points to take a 27-22 advantage into the locker room.
With a Karels three, a Sam Ternes drive for a basket on a Mason Kluntz assist and a Kluntz basket from under the rim, the Clippers posted the first seven points of the second half to take a two-point lead.
The Giants hit a jumper to tie the game at 29, but Kluntz put up a bucket from the paint, Ternes followed up with a three, and the Clippers led 34-29.
With steals that resulted in a three and a two-point basket, the Giants stalemated the game at 36 midway through the second half.
With a couple more baskets after steals in the mix, the Giants went in front 44-40, but after Tomaszewski plopped in a three off the bench, Ternes made the second of two free shots to deadlock the game at 44 with 1:30 left.
The Clipper defense held, and when Kluntz—pushed when hauling in an offensive rebound—made back-to-back foul shots 30 seconds later, the Clippers led by two.
With 33 seconds left, the Giants got ticketed for a charge. When the LSH coach expressed his disagreement, a technical foul ensued, and Ternes made a pair of free shots to extend the Clipper lead. The Giants tied up the inbounds pass after to regain possession but couldn’t convert.
A Kluntz free basket put the finishing touches on the Clipper victory.
With 11 points, including a pair of threes, Ternes paced the Clippers. Karels also had a pair of threes in his 10 total points. Kluntz had nine points, all in the second half. Smith had nine points in one half played. Kortuem and Tomaszewski each put in a three and a two for five points.
The Clippers totaled six threes and made three quarters of their dozen free shots. The Giants had four threes and were two of six from the foul stripe.
The Clippers return to action on Friday when they travel to Sherburn to take on Martin County West.
Above: Sam Ternes eyes the bucket. With 11 points, he led the Clippers.
