Trailing 48-27 at halftime, the varsity Clippers looked like their Tuesday game against visiting Mankato Loyola would be a bust, but they pulled within four in the second half before ultimately falling 75-64
“It was a tale of two halves,” said acting coach Carter Kopet, who was standing in for Mike Meyer. “That’s been the story of a couple of these games now: we dig ourselves a pretty deep hole, but these kids have no quit in them at all. They just fight and fight and fight. We played a defense we normally don’t play. They absolutely battled in that and created turnovers. Several of them are under the weather, but there was absolutely no quit, and I am most proud of them for that.”
Kyle Connor spun in for a bucket and the first points of the second half. Brennan Kortuem scored on a layup after a Bode Bartell steal and long assist and then made quick steal himself on the Clipper side of the court with Carson Lyons rebounding and scoring on the possession for a six-point Clippers spurt.
Later, after another Connor inside turn for a basket and basket after an offensive rebound, a Kortuem drive for a bucket and free baskets from Lyons and Kortuem, Kale Kelley bagged a three to narrow the Clipper deficit to eight, 57-49.
After two more Kortuem free baskets, Kelley went behind the arc again for a basket that pulled the Clippers within four, 58-54 with six and a half minutes remaining.
With two more Kortuem drives for buckets and another Kelley three, the Clippers fought hard from there, but the Crusaders, who beat the Clippers 68-59 early in the season, made free shots down the stretch to hang on to a victory.
Despite just two points in the first half, Kortuem ended the night with 17 points. Hot from outside, Kale Kelley put in five threes and a free throw for good measure and 16 total points. Lyons had 14 points. Connor ended the night with 11 points. Alex Johnson put in a bucket and a free shot in the second half for three total points. Alex Kortuem made the Clippers’ only other three in the second half for three total points.
The Clippers made 14 of 20 foul shots. Loyola made five three-point baskets and 23 of 32 free throws.
The Clippers grabbed 32 rebounds, 16 fewer than the Crusaders. They limited their turnovers to 11, two fewer than the Crusaders.
Lyons led the team on the boards with nine rebounds. He also had one assist, two steals and two blocks. Kelley had six rebounds, one assist and two steals. Brennan Kortuem had eight rebounds, one steal and three blocks. Bartell had two rebounds, one assist and four steals. Connor had three rebounds, three assists and one block. Alex Kortuem had one rebound.
The varsity Clippers travel to Alden-Conger tonight (Friday). The Knights, combined with Glenville-Emmons this season, pulled ahead of the Clippers late in the season opener, but the Clippers ended up with a 75-68 win.
Above: Kyle Connor releases a jump shot.
