While the scoreboard didn’t indicate success for the JV boys at Sleepy Eye St. Mary’s on Tuesday, their demonstration of character and teamwork in ensuring Henry Boelter made a basket was more important to the Clipper program than a game in the win column.
After Boelter missed his first shot in the waning seconds, the Clippers, in their final game of the season, grabbed the rebound, and sophomore Zayden Linder passed the ball back to his classmate nearby for another shot.
Poised at the top of the key, this time Boelter came through when his three-point attempt (above) bounced off the backboard and through the rim just before the final buzzer for his first basket as a JV Clipper.
Although Boelter didn’t get a ton of playing time this season, he enjoyed being a part of the team, and the highlight three was a memorable finish.
“It was worth the effort. I will be back next year.”
After the Knights bagged a three for the game’s first basket, Tanner Simonette took a Miles Tomaszewski steal and assist in for a layup. Tomaszewski followed with a reverse layup, and Mason Kluntz hauled down an offensive rebound and put it back up for a bucket.
Doing one better, the Knights went on a seven-points spurt. Kluntz ran in a basket, to stop the rally, but the Knights dumped in baskets to go in front 18-11.
Trailing 29-20 at halftime, the Clippers were still in the game, but other than Boelter’s triple, they only managed five other points in the second half: a pair of Tony Hollerich free throws and a basket from the floor and a free throw by Kluntz.
Meanwhile, the Knights posted 23 points for the 52-28 victory.
No Clipper hit double figures. Kluntz also put in a pair of two-point baskets and a free throw in the first half for eight total points. Tomaszewski had a pair of two-point baskets and three free throws for seven points. Hollerich also had a basket in the first half and had four total points. Simonette, Gavin Karels and Wyatt Krenik each chipped in a basket in the first half.
The Clippers made seven of 10 foul shots. The Knights made seven of 13 foul shots and five threes, four more than the Clippers.
