Garrett Heldberg scored 18 points to lead the eighth-grade boys to a 45-20 win over Mankato Loyola on Friday.
The game was played on the Loyola Hill.
Heldberg hauled down an offensive rebound and put it back up for the game’s first basket. Miles Tomaszewski added a couple of free shots, and Heldberg scored from the baseline and made the and-one for a 7-0 Clipper advantage before the Crusaders made a free throw to get on the board.
Jack Anderson scored, and Loyola responded with a three. From there, Wyatt Krenik (above) went on a run with a three and a pair of twos. Kipton Coon grabbed an O rebound and scored, and the Clippers were out front 18-6.
The Crusaders scored a basket from the floor and then went outside for two baskets, but Anderson made a three as well, and with a Tomaszewski jumper and a Heldberg inside basket, the Clippers led 25-14 at the intermission.
Tomaszewski put in the first basket of the second half. Heldberg scored again after clutching an offensive board and went on to post nine more points in the half, including back-to-back threes.
Luke Heldberg and Zander Linder each chipped in a bucket, and Aiden Giese put in a free throw, and the Clippers went on to the decisive win.
Tomaszewski totaled eight points. Krenik scored seven points. Anderson totaled five points. Coon, Luke Heldberg and Linder each contributed two points. Giese had one point.
The eighth-grade boys played in a tournament in Nicollet on Saturday. They head back to Nicollet today (Monday).
Harry Fuller looks for an open teammate.
Luke Heldberg drives through Loyola defenders.