Although they were overshadowed by the victory of their upperclassman counterparts, the Clipper C boys had a successful Monday night too, putting their first game in the win column when they downed visiting Mankato Loyola 34-13.
Defense made difference, said coach Curt Buhl.
“They really moved their feet. Loyola split us up a little bit, but we held them to only 13 points.”
Carter Barto scored the first two baskets for the Clippers en route to an 18-point effort. Max Mettler dropped in a three. Barto scored twice more, and Braeden Hastings made a basket from the floor.
Before halftime, Barto again scored twofold, the second basket on a layup and a Jorden Rossow assist.
“They really played at their own pace on offense,” Buhl said. “They played way more under control.”
After the Crusaders made the first of a pair of free throws, the Clippers were up comfortably 17-9 at the break.
Loyola made another free throw to start out the second half, but twice Barto pulled down an offensive rebound and scored. Later, Barto assisted a Hastings layup to put the Clippers in front 23-10.
The Crusaders made five steals after that with a three pointer coming after the first one, but that was the last basket they would make.
The Clippers scored the final 11 points. Hastings hit a jumper, and Mettler scored after a Barto steal. Seeing a vacancy in the paint, Hastings cashed in on a layup and made the ensuing free shot. Gabriel Sullivan sunk both halves of a two-shot foul and then assisted Barto for the game’s final basket.
Hastings had nine points. Mettler added five points, and Sullivan chipped in two points. At the start of the game, Dakota Alitz was the only player on the Clipper bench.
“They didn’t seem to get too tired,” Buhl said.
The Clippers travel to St. Clair on Friday.
Jorden Rossow guides the ball down court.
Braeden Hastings sprints toward the finish line.
With only six players, coach Curt Buhl didn’t have a lot of company on the sidelines.