Host Nicollet didn’t give the C-Squad boys too much trouble on Thursday in a 39-29 Clipper victory, the third straight for the Clippers.
While Braeden Smith put in a pair of baskets, and Nathan Seeman added another, the Clippers, who were coming off a 48-34 win over visiting Mayer Lutheran on Tuesday, held off the Raider offense for the first five minutes.
Later, Smith and Garrett Heldberg put in baskets, Sam Ternes hit a pair of free shots, and Tanner Simonette scored five points. After a Smith free throw, the Clippers led 18-13 at the break.
The Raiders pulled within two after making a three-pointer for the first basket of the second half and then tied the game 20 seconds later, but Smith scored from the floor to start a 12-point Clipper run before the Raiders finally scored again with 5 minutes remaining.
From there, Smith bagged the Clippers’ only three, Heldberg put in a pair of freebies, and Smith and Ternes made two-point baskets to put the finishing touches on the victory.
With 18 points, 11 in the second half, Smith paced the Clippers. Heldberg totaled eight points, a basket in each half and four-for-four free throws in the second half. Simonette had five points. Ternes had four points, and Seeman and Brink each chipped in a bucket.
The Clippers put in half of their 16 free throw attempts. The Raiders had four threes and made one of two foul shots.
Vs Mayer Lutheran
Fresh up from the eighth-grade boys’ team for the first time since getting some C-Squad action in at the end of last season, Heldberg scored 18 points in the Clippers’ win over Mayer Lutheran.
With baskets from Smith, Simonette and Ternes, the Clippers were in front 6-0 before the Crusaders got on the board. Seeman dropped in the first of three buckets he would have in the first half before Heldberg followed a free throw with a three-pointer.
With two more baskets from Smith and Ternes and baskets from Zayden Linder and Simonette, the Clippers led 33-15 at halftime.
Besides a Smith basket and free throw, all the 15 points in the second half came from Heldberg, including another three. The Crusaders put in a trio of threes towards their 19 second-half points, but the Clippers held on for the victory.
Smith totaled 10 points. Seeman had eight points. Ternes scored six points, Simonette had four points, and Linder had two points.
The Clippers had two threes and were 10 of 17 in free throw shooting. Mayer put in four threes and were two of six from the foul line.
Vs T/GHEC/ML
The Clippers beat visiting Truman/Granada-Huntley-East Chain/Martin Luther on Monday 59-50. They led 34-19 at the break.
Smith scored a dozen points in the first half, including two threes and put in three baskets in the second half for 18 total points. Simonette had eight points in the first half and two in the second for 10 points. Kasyn Zuehlke had two baskets in the first half and three in the second for 10 points.
Ternes totaled nine points. Seeman put in a three-point basket in the first half for three total points. Killian Kunkel, Charlie Perkins, Nathan Brink, and Linder each added two points. Henry Bolter made free throw.
The Clipper totaled three threes and made four of eight foul shots. The Jaguars put in five threes and one of four free throws.
Vs LCWM
Lake Crystal-Wellcome Memorial beat the host Clippers 57-48 on February 9. The Knights led 31-21 at the break.
Smith had 20 points in the effort. Ternes scored a dozen points. Seeman had seven points, Simonette had four points, Brink had three points, and Perkins added two points.
Seeman, Smith, Brink and Ternes each parked a three. The Clippers made eight of 12 foul shots. LCWM made eight threes and 13 of 16 free throws.
Vs Loyola
In the Fitzgerald gym on January 30, the Clippers lost 40-28 after a 16-16 tie at halftime.
No Clipper scored in double figures Seeman had seven points. Ternes and Gavin Karels each had five points. Alex Kortuem had three points. With two points were Simonette, Smith, Mason Kluntz and Kunkel.
Karels, Seeman, Kortuem and Ternes each made a three. The Clippers were off target in all four free throw attempts. The Crusaders made a pair of threes and six of 12 free throws.
Vs MCW
In Trimont on January 29, the Clippers won 38-22 after leading 17-11 at the break.
With 11 points, nine of them from beyond the arc, Brink led the Clippers. Smith had nine points. Only playing in the first half, Kluntz had five points. Simonette and Seeman each put in two baskets in the second half. Ternes put in a three pointer in the second half. Kunkel made a basket in the first half.
The Clippers made four threes and two of nine foul shots. The Mavericks made three threes and nine of 17 free throws.
Vs St. Clair
The Clippers led visiting St. Clair 24-13 at the half en route to a 38-23 victory on January 26.
Smith had nine points all in the second half, and Seeman had eight points, including a pair of threes, all in the first half. Both played just one half.
Kluntz and Karels only played the first half and each contributed five points. Karels made a three. Simonette had two baskets in the first half for four total points. Ternes chipped in a first-half bucket.
The Clippers posted three threes and five of 10 foul shots. The Cyclones made one three and one of seven free throws.
Vs Alden-Conger
Smith put in eight buckets in the first half and scored 23 total points, including a three in the second half, to lead the Clippers to a 45-36 win over Alden-Conger in Alden on January 23.
The Clippers trailed 23-22 at the break, but Karles entered the game in the second half and scored eight points. Seeman also entered the game in the second half and poked in a three.
Brink only played in the first half and put in two baskets. Ternes only played in the first half and had one basket. Perkins buried a three in the second half.
The Clippers made three threes and half of their eight free throws. The Knights had two threes and made 10 of 16 foul shots.
Vs GHEC
In Truman on January 18, the Clippers beat the Jaguars 48-39. They led 26-22 at the half.
Seeman terrorized the Jaguars with 18 points, including a pair of threes before exiting the game at halftime. Checked in after the intermission, Kortuem put in a pair of threes for six total points. Smith and Brink also entered the game after halftime and each scored six points.
Simonette made two buckets in the first half and one in the second for six points. Karels only played the first half and totaled three points. Zuehlke added a second-half basket. Kluntz made a free throw in the first half before exiting at halftime.
The Clippers totaled four threes and made half of their eight free throws. The Jags made a pair of threes and five of 14 free throws.
Vs Nicollet
When Nicollet came to town on January 15, the Clippers trailed 18-17 at the half but won 50-32.
Smith scored nine points in the first half and 13 in the second for 22 points, including a three in each half. Entering the game in the second half, Simonette put in three baskets for six total points. Kortuem also only played in the second half and put in a three, a two and a free shot for six points. Perkins had six points as well, all in the second half.
Karels only played the first half and put in a bucket. Seeman did the same and put in a three. Kluntz also only played in the first half and made a two and a free shot for three total points. Dominic Anderson made a basket in the second half.
The Clippers totaled four threes and were six of 13 in free throw shooting. The Raiders had five threes and made one of five foul shots.
Vs Loyola
Against host Mankato Loyola on January 12, the Clippers fell 41-20 after trailing 17-5 at the break.
Kluntz had two baskets, and Simonette put in a free throw in the first half. Smith had seven points in the second half, including a three. Ternes had six points in the second half, including a three. Karels put in a bucket in the second half.
The Clippers made a pair of threes and were two of five in free throw attempts. The Crusaders had four threes and made 11 of 15 foul shots.
The Clipper C boys travel to Janesville tomorrow (Monday).
Above: Garrett Heldberg eyes the basket in his first game this year on C-Squad, against Mayer Lutheran on Tuesday.
Kasyn Zuehlke drives in for a layup on the Nicollet court.
Nathan Seeman puts up a shot as a Mayer Lutheran defender goes up for a block.
Austin Pierce takes the ball down court during the game against Mayer Lutheran.
Zayden Linder makes a move against a Mayer Lutheran defender.
Kasyn Zuehlke confronts a Mayer Lutheran defender.
Braeden Smith gets fenced in by a trio of LCWM defenders.
Sam Ternes moves toward the hoop during the game against LCWM.
Nathan Brink races the ball down court as a LCWM defender keeps in touch.
Dominic Anderson swings toward the bucket in the home game against Nicollet.
Tanner Simonette works to get a handle on a rebound during the home game against Nicollet.
Alex Kortuem puts up a shot in Trimont against Martin County West.
Tanner Simonette breaks away in Trimont.