Lake Crystal-Wellcome Memorial rained six threes in the first half to lead 48-21 at the break and then went on to down the Clipper boys 72-43 on Tuesday.
The outcome wasn’t a huge surprise. The Knights have been surging of late, avenging losses to St. Clair (61-38) and Martin County West (64-56). Their other loss in the Valley was to Loyola, a team they will visit on February 14.
“It was sort of by design,” said head coach Mike Meyer about the Knight’s shots from beyond the arc. “Yesterday in practice we pushed really hard to take away the lane, and we worked on a defense that we haven’t run at all this year, and we implemented that a little tonight. We didn’t run it to perfection, but they got the concept, which was good for only having one day’s work, so our goal was to take away those drives, and we didn’t do that perfectly either, but we knew it was going to open up some outside shots. We also knew they were a good shooting team, so the guys have to get out there better, and they know that.”
Setting the tone early, after the Clippers missed a couple of easy inside shots, the Knights scored first on a dunk. After another Knight basket inside, Wyatte Devens (above) drove the baseline for two, but the Knights responded with a couple of threes, a two and a free shot for a 13-2 advantage.
Carter Dylla, who led the Clipper effort with 13 points, scored on a jumper, Kolby Gens assisted Devens and Lucas Walechka for a couple of baskets, and Dylla hit another jumper, but the Knights had an outbreak of four threes to go up 29-10 before Walechka scored on a jump shot.
“Not too many teams in the conference can shoot like Lake Crystal,” Meyer said. “They are a well-coached team, and they are a team that has been playing varsity for a long time. A lot of those juniors have been playing for two years already. They’re disciplined.”
The running clock flickered on and off in the second half, but Braeden Hastings hit enough free shots, and Devens scored on a couple of drives to keep it real. The final basket was a Devens layup on a long Colin Krenik assist.
“We don’t have the experience of varsity playing time, so if we get against some better kids, we get intimidated,” Meyer said. “So it is just getting our guys to realize they are just as athletic as the other team and have that mentality.”
Dylla put in one of the Clippers’ two three-point baskets. Hastings had seven points and four steals. Walechka scored six points. Krenik hit a basket behind the arc in the second half for three points. Blake Lyons had two points and six rebounds. The Clippers were seven of 13 in free-throw shooting.
“Offensively, we did the right thing,” Meyer said. “I wanted us to drive. I wanted us to get in the lane, but we've got to teach them how to draw that contact. Lake Crystal can jump out of the gym, so if we’re not getting the body call, we’re going to get blocked. It’s a step thing. Step one was making them go to the lane, so now we have to work on making them get a little more physical once we get inside and go up strong.”
LCWM spread their points all over with two players each scoring 10 points to lead the charge. They had nine threes and were nine of 21 from the foul line. The Clippers had 22 rebounds, six turnovers and six steals.
“We got destroyed on the boards in the first half and gave up way to many easy ones, but we still had guys who worked really hard and played their position really well,” Meyer said. “They worked smart and played disciplined, but there was some of the game that just got away from us.
The varsity boys return to action next Tuesday when they travel to St. Clair.
Blake Lyons reaches out for a runaway ball.
Carter Dylla’s drive gets stopped in traffic.
Colin Krenik for three.
Lucas Walechka moves to the hoop.