Culminating a skirmish back from an eight-point halftime deficit, Jack Mons sank a basket from behind the arc to tie Alden-Conger/Glenville-Emmons 30-30 with 8.4 seconds left.
The three-pointer sent the game into overtime.
With a three from Wyatt Krenik, a Carsyn Ryg basket on an inbounds pass and a Tony Hollerich bucket after a Kiptyn Coon steal and assist, the Clippers got out front early in the extra 4 minutes and never looked back en route to a 44-37 triumph.
The win in Alden ups the Clipper C boys’ record to 10-2.
The Clippers were off target for most of the game. Mons put in a trio of two-point baskets in the first half. Coon contributed a pair of baskets, and Jack Anderson and Luke Heldberg each added one basket. With a pair of threes and a dozen points from the Knight’s big, the Clippers went into the locker room trailing 22-14.
Miles Tomaszewski got in the books with a bucket to start the second half. Heldberg spun for a basket, but the Knights responded with a three. Later, Hollerich and Ryg added baskets, but overall the Clippers still weren’t shooting up to par. They did get a handle on the Knights’ top scorer though, limiting him to a basket and a free shot in the second half.
Tomaszewski scored on a Hollerich pass to pull the Clippers within two, 29-27. With 14.3 remaining, the Knights put in a free basket to force the Clippers to a shot from behind the arc.
Although Tomaszewski was sidelined with five fouls, the Clippers still had outside shooters on the floor, and they set up the play perfectly. Ryg had the ball behind the arc but deferred to Mons next door.
Mons ended the night with a dozen points. Ryg had eight points, three in the second half and a basket and three free baskets in the OT. Heldberg put in a basket in each period for six total points. Hollerich had a basket in the second half and three OT points for five total points. Coon’s four points were all in the first half. Tomaszewski also totaled four points. Krenik put in the Clippers’ only other three. Anderson chipped in a bucket.
The Clippers made seven of 17 free throws. The Knights also put in a pair of threes and were four of 15 from the foul line.
The C boys will have a chance to avenge one of their losses when they host GHEC/T/ML tonight (Monday). They fell to the Jaguars 49-38 in mid-December.
Above: Kiptyn Coon breaks down court. In front is Tony Hollerich.
