Before their 68-54 win over Tri-City United on Saturday, the last time the Clipper varsity boys played on the Taylor Center floor at Minnesota State University was back in March 2016.
Against St. Clair, the game was for a trip to the state tournament, but the Clippers, who had beaten the Cyclones twice in the regular season, trailed 16-2 early. They managed to pull ahead 41-39 in the second half, but St. Clair scored the next 11 points en route to a 58-47 upset.
Carter Kopet, a sophomore that year, scored a dozen points in the contest. Now, as an assistant coach for the Clippers, he had some words of advice to the team before the Coaches vs. Cancer game back in the Maverick arena on Saturday.
“The kids were all excited. It’s a really bouncy floor. They loved having a couple extra inches to their vertical. But shooting in this gym is a little bit different with a lot bigger backdrop. There wasn’t a lot to prepare for; it is just a little bit different.”
But overall, the experience in the storied arena was a big moment for the Clippers, Kopet said.
“It’s an awesome for these kids to get this experience. It’s a really special place. I’m thankful to (head coach) Mike (Meyer) with his connections to get us here. It was something fun to get up for, to get them excited. It’s something they can shoot for in the playoffs. Hopefully in a couple of weeks we’re back here, and that’s what they want to accomplish.”
Carson Lyons hit a three from the corner for the game’s first bucket. Later, he ran in a layup and then made a quick steal from near the Clipper bucket and put in back up for another inside basket.
“It’s a really great atmosphere, kind of like a dream to play here,” said the sophomore, who went on to lead the Clippers with 27 points, nine of them from three-point range.
After the Titans put in a couple of free shots, Braeden Smith responded with a three, and Kyle Connor took a Lyons pass down the baseline for a bucket. The Titans, who were still looking for a win this season, dumped in a pair of two-point baskets and a three to deadlock the game at 11. But with a balanced offense, including a Brennan Kortuem two and a three in the mix and a Kale Kelley layup, the Clippers went on 16-point run from there and led 32-19 at the intermission.
The Clippers, who were coming off a tough 56-52 loss at New Ulm Cathedral on Thursday, never gave up control in the second half and, with every player getting game time, went on to the easy triumph.
Kortuem finished the night with 17 points, including three threes. He has been ill for a few weeks and it was not on the floor as long as usual at both Cathedral, where he was limited to 13 points, and against TCU.
“I’ve been coughing a lot, been pretty sick, but you got out and play. It is what it is.”
Smith had seven points, including one three. Kelly put in a two and a three for five total points. Connor had a bucket in each half for four total points. Bode Bartell had two second half baskets for four points. Mason Kluntz added three points off the bench in the second half. Alex Kortuem made two free shots in the second half.
The Clippers put in eight threes and eight of 25 free throws. The Titans had four threes and made four of nine free throws. The Clippers had 31 rebounds and 19 turnovers. TCU totaled 51 rebounds and 34 turnovers.
Lyons grabbed six rebounds, passed for five assists and made five steals. Bartell had one rebound and two assists. Brennan Kortuem had four rebounds four assists and one steal. Connor had to rebounds and two steals. Alexander Johnson had one rebound, two assists and one steal. Smith had five rebounds, one assist, five steals and one block. Alex Kortuem had one rebound and two steals. Kelley had four rebounds and two assists. Kluntz had three rebounds. Tanner Simonette had one rebound and one assist. Gavin Karels hauled down two rebounds.
NUC 56, Cleveland 51
Cleveland led most of the game, but Cathedral pulled ahead with 7:20 left in the second half. The Clippers regained the lead but missed opportunities down the stretch, and the Greyhounds took over with 4 minutes remaining and held on for the win.
With a Bartell three and a Lyons layup after he made a steal in Clipper territory, the Clippers got off to a good start. Brennan Kortuem buried a three, and Lyons did the same and then stole and drove from coast to coast for a layup to put the Clippers in front 13-7.
The Greyhounds, who ended the season for the 2024 Clippers, scored the next eight points to lead by a bucket. Starting with a Smith three, the Clippers posted the next dozen points, including another Bartell three to retake the lead.
Cathedral responded with a three, but Smith canceled it. Leading up to halftime, Smith drove the lane for a bucket, Kortuem hit another three and with a Connor fadeaway to close out the half, the Clippers went down to the locker room leading 35-25.
But the Greyhounds regrouped at the half and came out with a quick three. Lyons bagged a three as well, but the Clippers, limited to just 16 points in the second half, were off the mark after that, and the Greyhounds scored nine of the half’s first dozen points.
Alex Kortuem looped in a three, but the Greyhounds put in a pair of threes to t lead 47-45. Brennan Kortuem drove for a bucket, and Lyons put in a layup and the ensuing free throw, but the Clippers again couldn’t find the target, including from the foul line, while the Greyhounds made a couple of inside baskets to lead 53-51 and then stole and canned a triple to seal the victory.
The Clippers made 20 of 57 baskets from the floor (42 percent) and nine of 29 three-point attempts (31 percent). They had 37 rebounds and 13 turnovers. Cathedral made 17 of 33 two-point attempts (52 percent) and five of 23 three-point shots (22 percent.). They had 38 rebounds and a dozen turnovers.
Lyons led the effort with 15 points, including a pair of threes. After a pair of threes and 10 total points in the first half, Kortuem was limited to just a basket and a free throw after the break. Smith had a pair of first-half threes and 12 total points. With two threes in the first half, Bartell totaled six points. Alex Kortuem put in a three, and Connor chipped in a first-half basket.
The Clippers had nine threes and made two of five free shots. Cathedral scored 15 points from behind the arc and made seven of 15 freebies.
With 11 rebounds along with one assist, one steal and one block, Smith had a double-double. Lyons pulled down nine rebounds and had four assists and three steals. Kelley had four rebounds, three assists and one steal. Brennan Kortuem had two rebounds, three assists and one block. Bartell had five rebounds, two assists and one steal. Connor had two rebounds and one assist. Alex Kortuem had two rebounds and one assist.
The Clippers went to avenge an earlier season loss against Martin County West on Tuesday (see upcoming story). They travel to St. James tonight for a 7:15 game against the 9-9 Saints. As St. James Area beat Le Sueur-Henderson 58-56 and are coming off a 67-63 win over Cedar Mountain, it will be a challenging 36 minutes for the Clippers.
Above: The Clippers with their Coaches vs. Cancer warmups. They are, from L-R, front row: Dominic Anderson, Kale Kelley, Sam Ternes, Alex Kortuem, Carson Lyons, Brennan Kortuem, Gavin Karels and Kyle Connor. Back row: head coach Mike Meyer, assistant coach Carter Kopet, Braeden Smith, Killian Kunkel, Alex Johnson, Bode Bartell, Tanner Simonette, Mason Kluntz, assistant coach Andy Schmidt and assistant coach Travis Mons. It was an apt fundraiser for the Clippers and the TCU boys as well as the TCU girls and LCWM Knights, who competed in the earlier game, as several coaches and an AD representing the teams have been treated for cancer.
