With the Cleveland varsity boys edging visiting Martin County West by only three points in both teams’ fourth game of the season, Monday’s rematch in Trimont got down to who had upped their game the most since then.
Out front by as many as two dozen points midway through the second half and rolling to a 79-68 victory, it was decisively the Clippers.
“We stuck with man-to-man for most of the game, and I thought everyone did pretty well,” said head coach Mike Meyer. “We have some little things to fix. It shows how our defense has grown, but more importantly our offensive has grown. When we first played them, we didn’t have much going for us on offense. We didn’t get through many of our sets. But now we are flowing really well on offense, and our guys are making better decisions and also playing really hard on defense, especially rebounding. We’re attacking the boards on both ends.”
The Mavericks scored an easy bucket inside to flip on the scoreboard, but it was the only lead they would have. Brennan Kortuem, who went on to lead all players with 30 points, plunked in a three from the corner, and Carter Barto went to work inside for three-straight buckets, and the Clippers had a lead they would never relinquish.
Injured most of all last year, Barto (on the opening jump above) has taken on a bigger role than he had at the start of the season. While he scored 17 points in the second win over MCW, he also did a good job rebounding and slowing down MCW's physical inside game.
The 6-5 center agreed with his coach.
“As the season has progressed, we’ve all gotten better, including me, not only incorporating me into more plays but working together. I’ve gotten to where I used to be, and that has meant more playing time. Tonight, after watching film and preparing some other ways, I knew I could be a big asset below.”
Barto went on to add 11 more points in the half, and Kortuem dropped in two more threes. But the Clippers spread their offense around. Jorden Rossow parked a pair of threes and ran in a layup, Blake Lyons dumped in three buckets, and Kyle Connor hauled down an offensive rebound and threw it back up for two points.
“At the beginning of the season, we were trying to ease Barto in,” said Meyer. “He did a good job tonight down low. I thought Kyle did a good job tonight down low too and just everyone. Brennan played just crazy. I don’t know how a kid shoots that well two games in a row, but he’s been on fire lately.”
With a Bode Bartell downtown three just in front of the buzzer, the Clippers were in front 44-28 at the break.
Lyons put in a left-handed layup to start the second half. Kortuem went on to add four more threes and a trip to the foul line for three points. Rossow canned another three.
From around the 14-minute mark to the 12-minute mark, three Clippers were on the floor from the bench, but they held their own.
“Tonight was the first night we’ve played Kale (Kelley) down on B-squad,” Meyer said. “He requested it, and I think it went really well for him. When he was in that B-squad game, he did a lot of really good things. He just needs more playing time. He went from last year having that role of being that sixth man and being in most of the game, and so this year it’s been a little more tough for him because he’s not in as much, he’s not active, so I think playing B-squad really helped him have a better role on varsity tonight. He did have a lot of really good minutes.”
Kortuem totaled seven threes, three two-point baskets and three freebies. Rossow had a hat trick of threes and racked up a dozen points. Blake Lyons had 10 points. Bartell added five points. Connor and Kelley each had two points off the bench. Carson Lyons made a free throw in the first half.
The Clippers put in 11 threes and made half of their 24 free throw attempts. MCW made four threes and was 16 of 22 from the foul line. Jacob Wilmes, a big, strong junior, who at times bullied his way inside, scored 29 points for the Mavericks.
Mankato Loyola 65, Cleveland 62
While Cleveland lost to visiting Mankato Loyola 77-71 in their first meeting, scorewise at least, the Clippers did slightly better during the rematch at Fitzgerald on Tuesday, falling to the Crusaders 65-62 in the Fitzgerald gym, always a tough venue.
Yet the Crusaders have had an up-and-down season so far. In the conference, they split with Alden-Conger, a team the Clippers beat twice. They lost twice to Madelia, a team that the Clippers split with but that currently is second in the conference behind undefeated LCWM. The Crusaders beat St. Clair, currently third in the conference ahead of Cleveland.
But the Crusaders had the Clippers’ number again. They never trailed and led 40-27 at the break. With two minutes left, the Clippers pulled within three. Kortuem bagged a three with 70 seconds left, but the Crusaders made free throws to hang on to the win.
With 26 points, a dozen of them from three-point land, Kortuem led all players. Carson Lyons scored 11 points. Bartell and Barto each contributed nine points. All of Bartell’s points came from behind the arc. Blake Lyons had seven points including one three.
The Clippers totaled eight threes and were 13 of 20 from the foul line. The Crusaders made five threes and were 16 of 25 in free throw shooting.
The varsity boys have a long break before they return to action with a home game against Lake Crystal-Wellcome Memorial on Friday, February 9.
Carter Barto squares up against MCW’s Jacob Wilmes.
Bode Bartell pulls down an offensive rebound during the game against MCW.
Brennan Kortuem takes the ball up under MCW pressure.
Blake Lyons stretches for a shot in the second half against MCW.
Joden Rossow looks to make a move on an MCW defender.
Carson Lyons looks for a handoff during the game against MCW.
Kale Kelley fights for a rebound as Kyle Connor clears some space.