Unable to overcome listless starts, the C boys fell twice at home: 30-18 to Martin County West on Friday and 49-23 to Loyola on Monday.
Cold as slab of Lake Jefferson ice in the first half, the Clippers already trailed the Crusaders 15 to zip when Elijah Mons grabbed an offensive rebound and scored at the 5-minute mark.
Mons scored again, and Gavin Karels and Bode Bartell (above) drove the lane for baskets, but that was all the points the Clippers could reel in during the first half, and they trailed 22-8 at the intermission.
The second half was a different pail of minnows though as the Clippers equaled the Crusaders.
Bartell, who ended the night with 16 points to lead his team, rebounded and tipped up the first basket of the second half.
From there, Nathan Seeman went to work, jigging a three and then a two. Bartell augured down a three as well, and the Clippers scored 10 of the first 13 points in the second half.
Bartell drove the paint for a bucket and then stole the bait and skated from one end of the floor to the other for a layup that put the Clippers within nine, 31-22.
But the Crusaders went on an 8-point surge that Karels finally broke up with a hook shot. As the game drew to a close, Bartell put a three down the hole and also netted two free shots, but it wasn’t enough.
Seeman ended the night with a stringer of five points. Mons and Karels each contributed four points. The Clippers had a trio of threes and were two of seven from the foul line. Loyola also made three threes and was 12 of 16 in free throw shooting.
Against MCW, the Clippers’ only four points before the break came from free throws, one from Karels, two from Nathan Brink and one from Mons, but they were still in the game only trailing by nine, 13-4.
Karels added five points in the second half. Seeman had a three and a pair of two-point baskets. Mons added a basket.
The Clippers made half of their 10 free shots. The Mavericks were four for 10 from the foul line and had a pair of three-point baskets.
The Clipper C-squad returns to action on February 7 with a game at Lake Crystal.
Elijah Mons extends for a shot during the Loyola game.
Gavin Karels strides between defenders for a shot.
Daniel McClune looks for an open teammate.
Nathan Seeman reaches for a tie up against Martin County West.