Visiting Waterville-Elysian-Morristown and the C boys played neck-and-neck for most of 28 minutes in the old gym on Thursday, but after a Jack Mons timely triple down the stretch, the Clippers held the lead in what would be a 53-50 orange & black triumph.
With a minute left, the Buccaneers put in a basket to go up by a point, 49-48, but 22 seconds later, Mons sank the three, and the Clippers led by a basket.
With 30 seconds left, the Bucs made a free shot to pull within a point, but after absorbing the foul, Miles Tomaszewski iced a pair of free throws, and the Clipper defense held for the final 10 seconds to seal the victory.
After a balanced effort, the Clippers led 22-18 at the half.
With a three, a pair of twos and a free basket in the first half and a triple and two free baskets in the second half, Mons led the Clippers with 13 points. Kiptyn Coon made six baskets, two in the first half and four in the second, for a dozen total points.
Tomaszewski put in two first-half baskets and three free shots in the second half for seven total points. Wyatt Krenik parked a three in each half for six total points. Zander Linder scored six points, all in the second half. Carsyn Ryg made two second-half buckets for four total points. Luke Heldberg had a basket in each half for four total points. Jack Anderson put in a first-half free throw.
The Clippers made four threes and nine of a dozen free shots while the Bucs made three threes and 11 of 15 fouls shots.
At Mayer Lutheran on February 11, the C boys lost 54-45 after being up 27-26 at the half.
Three minutes into the second half, the Clippers suffered a four-minute scoring famine that Heldberg finally ended at the 7:54 mark, but the Crusaders were up 48-33 by then.
Krenik made a pair of triples and a pair of two-point baskets in the first half, but the Crusaders limited him to a two and a free throw in the second half for 13 total points.
Coon totaled 10 points. Heldberg had eight points. Linder sank two first-half triples for six total points. Anderson put in a three and three free shots in the second half for six total points. Tony Hollerich made two first-half free throws.
The Clippers made five threes and 12 of 20 free throws. The Crusaders also had five threes and were nine of 26 from the foul line.
Against host Kasson-Mantorville last Friday, the Komets doubled up on the C boys 60-30.
With 10 points, Mons led the effort. Ryg totaled six points. Coon had five points. Heldberg had four points. Krenik had two points, and Hollerich added a free throw.
The C boys will close out their season tomorrow (Tuesday) with a game at Sleepy Eye St. Mary’s.
Above: A WEM defender moves in on Kiptyn Coon.
