Although they lost a close defensive battle to host New Ulm Cathedral on Friday and by just three points to visiting Nicollet on Tuesday, with a decisive defeat by visiting Madelia on Thursday, a victory eluded the C-squad boys last week, and they went 0-3.
Cathedral doubled up on the Clippers, 18-9, at the break. Nathan Seeman had three baskets for six of the points, and Mason Kluntz made a basket and a free throw.
The Clippers never waived a white flag though. Elijah Mons posted two baskets from the floor and two free throws in the second half. Gavin Karels had a basket and two free throws, Seeman plunged in a three, and Kluntz made a bucket from the floor, but it wasn’t enough, and the Greyhounds hung on for the 30-24 win.
Seeman led the Clippers with nine points. Mons contributed six points, Kluntz had five, and Karels had four points. The Clippers made five of a dozen free shots. NUC had no threes and was two of six from the foul line.
Capitalizing on a slew of turnovers, Madelia limited the Clippers to six free throws and a Kluntz basket from the floor to lead 18-8 at the break. After the Blackhawks went on a 15-point run to start the second half, Killian Kunkel took a Seeman pass up an in to break up the run.
Later, Daniel McClune rebounded and scored, but a pair of free throws by Kunkel and Gavin Karels were the only other points the Clippers managed, and the Blackhawks cruised to the 43-16 win.
Kluntz had five points in the effort. Kunkel posted four points. Karels had three, McClune two, and Seeman and Nathan Brink each made a free throw.
The Clippers made eight of 22 free throw attempts. Madelia put in four three pointers and was five of eight from the foul line.
With six points from Kluntz, five from Karels and a Seeman three in the mix, the Clippers led the Raiders 18-16 at the break but couldn’t hang on and fell 36-33.
Kluntz had 10 points in that effort. Karels scored nine. Seeman had a pair of threes for six points. Brink had two second half baskets for four total points. Kunkel and Mons each put in a basket in the first half for two points.
Making a third of their nine free shots, the Clippers could have won the game from the foul line. The Raiders posted a trio of threes and were seven of 13 in free throw shooting.
The C boys will look for a victory when they host Janesville-Waldorf-Pemberton on Monday.
Above: Elijah Mons on defense against Madelia.
Nathan Brink tries to break through a Madelia trap.
Nathan Seema squares off against a Blackhawk defender.
Gavin Karels strides to the net.
Sean Baumann dribbles around a Madelia defender.
Nathan Seeman on the break against Nicollet. Photo courtesy of Patty Sullivan.