Mankato Loyola 77, Cleveland 71 on Friday was a battle of threes with the visiting Crusaders totaling 15 while the Clippers had 10.
The Clippers also lost on Saturday to Sleepy Eye at Bethany, 71-41.
“Our game plan worked well, but they countered well,” said head coach Mike Meyer. “We had our lead but gave it up. We knew who their shooters were. We know which guys attacked. They just countered. Obviously, we’d like to win those games. We’ve been in this situation quite few times this year, and hopefully from now on we pull those games off instead of getting beat.”
The Clippers rained down eight threes in the first half. Five of them came off the hands of Brennan Kortuem. Jorden Rossow sunk two, and Bode Bartell made one.
But with one more three than the Clippers had, the Crusaders were also hot from behind the arc in the first half and only trailed by five, 43-38, at halftime.
“Our closeouts weren’t good in the first half,” Meyer said. “We were giving up a lot of baseline drives, but we got better in the second half.”
With a basket by Kortuem and two baskets from Carson Lyons, the Clippers scored the first six points of the second half. But the Crusaders set up from behind the arc for 15 points to stalemate the game at 57.
Carter Barto took a Blake Lyons pass up and in from the baseline, but the Crusaders responded with a three to pull ahead by appoint before Rossow put in a free throw to knot the game at 60.
Barto scored again, but the Crusaders scored eight points to go in front 68-62. Carson Lyons and Kortuem each dropped in a three, but the Crusaders scored from the floor and then two foul baskets to keep in front, 72-68.
Barto grabbed his own rebound and scored and put in the and-one shot, to pull the Clippers within a point, but the Crusaders made five of six free throws down the stretch to hang on to the lead.
With six threes and 26 total points, Kortuem led the effort. Barto had 16 points, 11 of them in the second half. Carson Lyons had 11 points, nine of them in the second half. Kyle Connor added four points. Bode Bartell had three points. Blake Lyons had one basket for two total points.
The Clippers totaled 10 threes, six from Kortuem, two from Rossow and one from both Carson Lyons and Bartell. They were nine of 14 from the free throw line.
The Crusaders had 15 threes and were 16 of 27 from the foul line.
Barto pulled down a dozen rebounds. Blake Lyons had eight rebounds, eight assists and two steals while Carson Lyons had six rebounds and four assists. Kortuem had four rebounds. Connor had one steal.
Against Sleepy Eye, Kortuem drove the lane for the game’s first basket but the Indians, who have been ranked in the state top 10, went on a 16-point rampage enroute to a 42-16 lead at the break
Carson Lyons put in a three and three two-point baskets in the second half, and Kale Kelley plopped in a three off the bench, but Sleepy Eye added four points to their lead to cruise to the victory.
With a dozen points, Carson Lyons led the effort. Kortuem had nine points. Bode Bartell and Blake Lyons each had four points. Rossow put in a three for three total points. Kelley also contributed a three for three total points. Gabe Sullivan, Connor and Alex Johnson each chipped in two points.
A Kortuem three in the first half made for four threes for the Clippers. They were seven of 11 from the foul line. Sleepy Eye had seven threes and were 14 of 16 in free throw shooting.
The Clippers will look for a victory when they host Nicollet tonight (Monday). The Raiders will be fighting hard for a first win for the season.
Above: Brennan Kortuem is greeted by Loyola defenders.
Carson Lyons breaks inside during the Loyola game.
Carter Barto extends for a shot while a Loyola player meets him.
Kyle Connor takes the ball around a Loyola defender.
Bode Bartell puts up a one-handed shot during the Loyola game.
It was Parents’ Night at the Loula game. Above are Bode and Brett Bartell and Brandi and Jorden Rossow.
Blake Lyons leaps for a shot on the Bethany court against Sleepy Eye.
Kale Kelley launches a shot while a Sleepy Eye player extends to block it.
Gabe Sullivan heads between two Sleepy Eye defenders.