A few minutes before the tipoff of what would be Cleveland 93, visiting Mayer Lutheran 80 on Tuesday, assistant coach Carter Kopet reminded Bode Bartell that he’s been on the floor for his defense.
It was a confidence thing. Kopet and the rest of the coaching staff wanted to make sure that Bartell knew he was contributing even though he wasn’t ranking high in the Clipper scoring column.
But with a quartet of threes in the first half, a pair of steals and ensuing layups in the second (above) and three free throws in the mix, Bartell racked up 19 points for the Clippers. He wasn’t the top scorer—Brennan Kortuem was with 28 points—but it was a breakout game for the 5-10 sophomore, and his effort loomed large in the quality win.
“Bode is a magnificent player, and we’ve known that all along,” said head coach Mike Meyer. “For him, it was great to see what he did tonight. He has to understand defense is why he’s been playing, even though we knew he had capability of scoring. So, for him to come out and score like that…and just the fact that this team surrounded him…they want to see each other succeed.”
“I’ve been all over the place this year, but tonight I was hot,” said Bartell, who is typically the Clippers’ six man but has had a few starts sprinkled in. “I have gotten more confident, and it’s been a fun year.”
An example of the camaraderie of the varsity Clippers, Bartell’s teammates doused him with water after the game. While he didn’t like all the attention, he appreciates the team chemistry, something that’s been improving, he said.
“I just got to know them all these past few years really well. But I’ve been playing with Carson (Lyons) since junior high and Blake (Lyons) since junior high. Brennan (Kortuem) and Alex (Kortuem) I had been best friends with them before they moved away.”
The Clippers were coming off an 82-71 loss the night before to visiting Truman/Granada-Huntley-East Chain/Martin Luther, a team they had beaten by a point on the road earlier in the season. They were ready to take it out on Mayer Lutheran, Meyer said.
“We came out with really good energy. Last night’s game was a lot of bad effort. It was the worst effort I’ve ever coached from this team. But they knew that. They wanted redemption.”
En route to a dozen points, Carter Barto dropped in the game’s first basket. Blake Lyons and Brennan Kortuem scored before the Crusaders lit up their half of the scoreboard with a three, the first of seven they would have in the half.
From there, Barto worked for a couple of baskets, and Carson Lyons bagged a three before Bartell hit his first of four buckets from three-point land. With a string of six free baskets and a couple of threes from Kortuem and a pair of Jorden Rossow threes, the Clippers were in front 51-37 at the break.
With another pair of Rossow threes, three more Barto buckets, threes from each of the Lyons brothers and 10 more points from Kortuem, the Clippers kept the pressure on. The Crusaders outscored the Clippers by a point in the second half, but the Clippers kept in control.
“Mayer Lutheran came out and gave us the trap that we know how to play against, and they gave it to us all night,” Meyer said. “They climbed back from the lead we had, chipped away at it at the end, but we had a pretty good lead. Our defense was really good. All around, it was a great game from us, a great game from each player. Whether they scored or not, everyone came on the court and contributed tonight.”
Barto, Rossow and Carson Lyons each finished the night with a dozen points. Blake Lyons had eight points. Kyle Connor put in a basket in the second half.
Blake Lyons had 11 rebounds and six assists. Carson Lyons had nine rebounds and three steals. Kortuem had five assists and four steals. Barto clutched seven rebounds. Rossow had five rebounds and four steals. Bartell had four rebounds two steals and three assists. Connor had two rebounds, and one each of a block, assist and steal.
The Clippers totaled 14 threes and were 15 of 21 from the foul line. The Crusaders made nine threes and half of their 14 free throws. Blake Lyons had four fouls, but overall, the Clippers kept out of foul trouble.
Coming off an 89-59 home loss to Lake Crystal-Wellcome Memorial, 11-0 in the Valley, 16-3 overall, on Friday, the Clippers fell to visiting Truman/Granada-Huntley-East Chain/Martin Luther 82-71 on Monday.
The Jaguars led 42-29 at the break.
The last three minutes we came out and played the way we usually do and started to chip away at the lead, but it was a little bit too late. In two years, for them to have one bad effort game, I can be ok with that. We just have to make sure that’s the last one for this year.”
For a double-double, Barto put up 15 points and pulled down 12 rebounds. He also had two assists and one steal. Blake Lyons had 15 points, nine rebounds and four assists. Kortuem had 16 points, and one steal, one rebound and one assist. Carson Lyons posted a dozen points, had seven rebounds, five assists, three steals and a block. Rossow had three points. Connor had five points and one steal. Bartell had one point and one rebound. Kale Kelley had one steal and one rebound.
The Clippers made eight threes, two each from the Lyons siblings and four from Kortuem. They were 15 of 23 in four shooting. The Jags had five threes and were 17 of 27 from the free throw stripe.
The Clippers held on for the first eight minutes against LCWM but trailed the Knights 43-29 at the break.
While the Knights stepped in front of too many Clipper passes, the Clippers’ work on the boards wasn’t up to snuff, Meyer said.
“The main thing we stressed to them after the game was we have been rebounding really well lately, but tonight it wasn’t there for us. And then the heart and soul for us the past couple of years is getting loose balls.”
Still, Meyer appreciated the effort.
“Tonight, it wasn’t there, but you can’t be mad about how we played this game, especially how we started. They are really deep on their bench, but our guys toughed it out. We started to get tired in the first half, and they started to pull away. That is the best team we’re going to play all year. I am proud of us for the way we started that game.”
With five threes and 27 total points, Kortuem led the effort. Blake Lyons scored 10 points. Carson Lyons had five points. Bartell contributed five points. Barto and Connor each had four points. Alex Johnson chipped in a bucket.
The Clippers road trip to Nicollet on Thursday. The Clippers won 70-49 in the first meeting.
Feelin’ the love. Bode Bartell’s teammates doused him with water after the win over Mayer Lutheran.
Surrounded by a trio of Mayer Lutheran defenders, Carson Lyons goes up for a layup.
Carter Barto surveys the floor for an open teammate during the Mayer Lutheran game.
Blake Lyons fights his way to the basket during the Mayer Lutheran game.
Brennan Kortuem pops off a shot as a Mayer Lutheran defender moves in.
Kyle Connor sets up for an inside basket as a Mayer Lutheran defender reaches around.
Brennan Kortuem rushes the ball down court during the LCWM game.
Jorden Rossow looks for an open teammate as LCWM tags him.
Alex Johnson looks to the hoop as an LCWM defender greets him.