Scoring 11 of the final 12 points in the last two and a half minutes, visiting Alden-Conger thwarted a Cleveland comeback to down the Clippers 45-41 in B-squad basketball on Thursday.
With six and a half minutes left, Braeden Smith drove the length of the floor and scored on a layup to deadlock the game at 32.
The Knights ran down the baseline and scored, but Nathan Seeman took the ball inside for a basket, Alex Johnson hit a pair of free throws, and Smith looped inside for a bucket and then took a Tanner Simonette pass in for a layup, and the Clippers were suddenly in front 40-34 with 2:38 remaining.
But the Clippers didn’t manage the clock well, and the Knights surged to the triumph.
Alexander Kortuem put in a hat trick of threes in the first half. Seeman also dropped in a three, and Smith, Johnson and Nathan Brink scored from the floor, but the Clippers trailed 22-19 at the break.
Another Seeman three, a Smith shot from the paint and a Gavin Karels basket pulled the Clippers within a point, 31-30 in the second half.
Smith and Kortuem each scored 10 points in the effort. Seeman had eight points, and Johnson added six points. Karels scored four points, and Brink chipped in three points.
The B Clippers were coming off a 39-29 loss to host Cedar Mountain on Saturday. They trailed 14-13 at the half.
With 11 points, Smith led that effort. Karels and Kortuem each had six points. Kortuem put in the Clippers’ only three. Simonette posted four points. Mason Kluntz chipped in a free throw.
The Clippers made eight of 18 foul shots. Cedar Mountain also made one three and was four of 16 from the free-throw line.
The B Clippers host Martin County West on Monday.
Above: Alexander Kortuem crashes through the lane.
Nathan Seeman puts up a one-handed shot.
Alex Johnson ducks under a defender.