With a steady dose of rebounding and drives inside, visiting Lake Crystal-Wellcome Memorial battered the Clipper B-squad boys 50-16 on Tuesday.
The Clippers scored only intermittently in the first half. With his team trailing 6-0, Gavin Karels knocked down a three to turn on the Clipper side of the scoreboard.
But the Knights jousted for the next eight points before Bode Bartell’s (above) hook shot from the baseline made its way through the net. The Clippers didn’t score again until just before the break when they grabbed a couple of O rebounds and Bartell hooked in another bucket. The Knights were up four-fold, 28-7, at the rest period.
LCWM thieved four times and converted all of them and a back-door shot after a defensive rebound too for a 10-point spurt to start the second half. Bartell drove in for a bucket to end to the run.
From there, Alex Johnson bowed a jumper through the net, and Bartell swished a freebie and took a Nathan Seeman handoff in for a layup, but the Knights still savored a cozy 42-14 lead.
Seeman assisted Johnson for the next Clipper basket, but it was their last one, and the Knights punctuated the game with a trio of baskets for the easy-peasy triumph.
Scoring was concentrated among a trio of Clippers. Bartell led the effort with nine points. Johnson had four points. Karels had the one three pointer.
The Clippers made one of eight free throws. The Knights put in one three pointer and were three of eight from the foul line.
In the first game of the Wabasso tournament on December 1, the B boys started their season on a high note when they topped Buffalo Lake-Hector-Stewart 29-21.
With threes by Bartell and Mason Kluntz and a quartet of twos off the hands of Johnson, the Clippers led 18-8 at the break. The Mustangs outscored the Clippers 13-11 in the second half, but it wasn’t enough.
With 10 points, Johnson led all scorers. Bartell posted five points, and Karels added four points. Kluntz provided three points. Nathan Strobel, Brady Bostic and Nathan Brink each contributed two points. Dakota Alitz chipped in one point.
The Clippers converted a third of their nine foul shots. The Mustangs made two thirds of their nine free throws.
Back at Wabasso the following Saturday, the Clippers were lashed 50-12 by Adrian. Seeman and Johnson baskets accounted for the only Clipper points in the first half, and the Dragons led 21-4 at the break.
Strobel, Seeman, Bostic and Johnson each made one two pointer in the second half. The Clippers were 0-3 from the foul line. Adrian had a trio of three pointers and were successful in five of 15 foul shots.
Coached by Andy Schmidt and Travis Mons, the B squad boys get back on the court on Friday when they take a road trip to Sherburn to play Martin County West.
Brady Bostic looks toward the rim.
Alex Johnson dribbles inside.
Nathan Strobel and Brady Bostic battle for a loose ball.