After a big home win against Mayer Lutheran and traveling to Nicollet after easily downing the Raiders 70-49 earlier in the season on the Cleveland court, the stars lined up for anything but a cakewalk for the boys varsity team on Tuesday.
And it wasn’t as the Raiders, fighting hard for their first win this season, stalemated the game 48-48 with 5:14 remaining.
But Brennan Kortuem put in a bucket and made two free throws. Carson Lyons added a pair of free throws. Kortuem made another free throw, and Lyons dropped in another bucket to complete a 7-point run.
The Raiders hit a three-point basket to pull within six with three and a half minutes left, but after Blake Lyons and Jorden Rossow each added a basket, and the Clippers made six free throws down the stretch to hang on for a 67-60 triumph.
Carter Barto grabbed an offensive rebound and tossed it back up for the game’s first basket. After the Raiders got on the board, Blake Lyons parked the first of a pair of threes he would have in the half. Barto hit a pair of free shots, but the Raiders poked in a three to knot the game 7-7.
But after Barto scored again, Blake Lyons hit his second three, and Kortuem airmailed back-to-back threes, and the Clippers were suddenly in front 18-7.
From there, the Raiders had trouble finding a handle on the ball, but the Clipper shots were off target. Kortuem made a couple of layups, the first after a steal. Barto twisted for a basket and made the ensuing layup, and Kortuem took the ball through the paint for another bucket and a 29-12 Clipper advantage.
The Raiders hung around with back-to-back threes and a couple of baskets after steals, but with a pair of Carson Lyons layups, the first after he stole, the Clippers were in front 31-22 at the break.
Kortuem put in the first two baskets of the second half, but the Raiders responded with a pair of threes. Keeping the Clippers off the board for four minutes after the 12-and-a-half minute mark, they finally caught up before the Clippers pulled away.
With 27 points, including 15 from behind the arc and eight free baskets out of 11 attempts, Kortuem led the Clippers. Barto had 19 points. Carson Lyons totaled nine points. Blake Lyons had eight points, six of them from three-point range. Rossow put in a basket and two free shots in the second half.
The Clippers totaled five threes and were successful in 18 of 24 free throws. Nicollet made eight threes and half of its 16 free throws.
The game concluded the Valley Conference season for the Clippers. With a 7-6 record, they finished in fourth place behind leader LCWM, St. Clair in second and Mankato Loyola in third. Madelia finished fifth.
The Clippers travel to Janesville tonight (Monday). The JWP Bulldogs are a solid 2A team with losses only to LCWM (47-44), Blooming Prairie, Waseca Spring Grove and Sibley East.
Above: Brennan Kortuem, Jorden Rossow and Kale Kelley on defense.
Brennan Kortuem takes the ball down court after a steal.
Carter Barto stretches for a shot.
Carson Lyons takes aim.