Present and future Clipper basketball meet during Kid’s Day

Present and future Clipper basketball aligned during Kid’s Day at the JV and varsity boys’ games against visiting Glenville-Emmons on Monday.

While the elementary teams welcomed the varsity players to the floor (above), during halftime, members of the 10,000 Shot Club/1,500 Minute Dribble Club 2023 received a certificate and ball for their commitment to improving their basic skills.

And the young Clippers got to see the third of what would be four-in-a-row wins by the varsity Clippers.

Coming off a 58-57 road win over Martin Luther/Granada-Huntley-East Chain/Truman the Thursday before, the varsity Clippers went on to down Glenville-Emmons 71-58. On Thursday, they topped Alden-Conger on the road 62-52 before getting beat by visiting St. Clair 81-62.

Vs Glenville-Emmons

The Clippers were in front of the Wolverines 40-27 at the break. It was Blake Lyon’s turn to lead the Clippers. He had 18 points with six of them coming from beyond the arc. He also had eight rebounds, two assists and two steals.

Brennan Kortuem scored 13 points with nine of them from three-point country. He had four rebounds, five assists and one steal. Jorden Rossow put in four threes for a dozen points. He also had five rebounds, five assists and one steal. Carson Lyons had 10 points, including one three. He had seven assists, one rebound and four steals.

Carter Barto added four points and had 11 rebounds and three assists. Kyle Connor had six points, one rebound and one assist. Bode Bartell stole twice.

The Clippers had a dozen threes and were seven of eight in free throw shooting. The Wolverines put in five threes and 13 of 20 free throw attempts.

Vs ML/GHEC/T

In Truman the Thursday before, the Jaguars put in a bucket from the floor to go ahead 56-55 with 1:48 remaining. But on the Clippers’ ensuing passion, Blake Lyons bagged a three. The Jaguars made and the missed a free shot with 1:29 reaming, and the Clippers hung on for the win.

The Clippers were tied with the Jaguars 23-23 at the half.

Kortuem had 17 points for the Clippers, including three threes. Carson Lyons had 15 points, including one three. Barto had three baskets and three free throws for nine points. Bartell had a pair of threes and a two for eight points. Blake Lyons also had a basket in the first half and had five total points. Rossow had a two and a pair of free shots for four points.

The Clippers made seven threes and were 13 of 20 from the foul line. The Jaguars had nine threes and were four of 10 in free throw shooting.

Vs Alden-Conger

In Alden, the Knights jumped out early with a 9-2 lead, but after Barto sunk a couple of freebies, Blake Lyons and Rossow buried threes. Kortuem added a three, and Rossow and Blake Lyons each added another three as well, and the Clippers only trailed by three at the half, 28-25.

But Carson Lyons didn’t to be left out of the action and opened the second half with a three, the first of three he would have in the second half and the first of eight for the Clippers. Kortuem, who also put in three threes in the second half, followed up with a three, and the Clippers went up 31-26.

Alden Conger kept up for a while, but the Clippers widened their lead with six minutes to go. Rossow and Blake Lyons each put in a three, Barto scored four points from the floor, and the Clippers cruised to the triumph.

With four threes, six twos and four free baskets, Kortuem paced the Clippers with 22 points. He also had eight rebounds, two assists and one steal. Carson Lyons put in three threes, a two and two free shots for 13 points. With 10 rebounds, he posted a double-double. He also had three assists and one steal.

Blake Lyons had three threes and three free shots for a dozen points and also pulled in six rebounds and made four steals and three assists. Rossow totaled nine points, all from three-point range, and had four assists, two steals and four rebounds. Barto had two baskets and two free shots for six total points. He clutched eight rebounds. Bartell and Kyle Connor each had three rebounds. Bartell also had one assist.

All told, the Clippers made 13 threes and were 11 of 19 from the foul line. The Knights put in three threes and were seven of 19 in free throw shooting.

Vs St. Clair

Kortuem put in three threes and 14 points in the first half against St. Clair. The Lyons siblings each posted a three as well, but the Clippers trailed 46-28 at halftime.

"We've got to learn to play our game," said head coach Mike Meyer. "We played pretty fast at the beginning of the game, but it got to us after a while. St. Clair likes to play fast, but we're used to playing our game. We look to push but not every single play. They put the pressure on, and we expected it, and we did a good job breaking the pressure, but we just couldn't get into a rhythm on offense."

With three more threes in the second half and 25 total points, Kortuem led all scorers. He also had three rebounds and four assists.

Blake Lyons had nine points with six of them coming from behind the arc. He had two rebounds , two assists and one steal. Carson Lyons put in a three, a two and all six of his free throw attempts for 11 points. He had six rebounds, one assist and four steals. Barto had eight points, nine rebounds, three assists and a pair of steals. Bartell posted a three, a two and a free throw for six points. He also had three rebounds and one steal. Connor had a second-half basket for two total points. He also had one rebound.

Kale Kelley had one assist. Rossow had one rebound.

The Clipper totaled 10 threes and were 15 of 20 from the foul line. The Cyclones made seven threes and were four of 10 from the charity line.

The Clippers turned the ball over 16 times.

"We got beat up pretty good on the boards," Meyer said.

The Clippers, now 5-3 in the conference and 8-8 overall, travel to Trimont tonight (Monday) to take on Martin County West. The Clippers beat the Mavericks 56-53 earlier in the season.

Members of the 10,000 Shot Club/1,500 Minute Dribble Club 2023 are, from L-R: Chuck Mons, Griffin Rutz, Tyler Smith, Abel Hastings, Zack Miller, Blake Christiansen, Keegen Karels, Brodey Rutz, Brayden Schmidt, Jack Mons, Jett Hastings and Harper Rutz. Missing is Gabriel Anderson.