Finishing a solid season on an uptick, the C boys downed visiting Le Sueur-Henderson 52-41 on Monday. The Clippers were coming off a 49-38 loss in Waterville the Thursday before.
With a pair of twos and a three from Garrett Heldberg, four buckets from Braeden Smith, a Zayden Linder basket, a Tanner Simonette basket and a Nathan Brink three, as well as nine free points sprinkled in for flavoring, the Clippers who cleared the bench in the first half, led 31-21 at the break.
The Giants outscored the Clippers 31-21 in the second half, but with four more Heldberg baskets, four points from Smith and Brink and twos off the hands of Simonette and Kasyn Zuehlke, the Clippers held on for the triumph.
With 19 points, Heldberg piloted the Clippers. Smith had 13 points. Brink added seven points, and Simonette had six points. Zuehlke provided three points. Linder and Sam Ternes each chipped in two points.
Heldberg and Brink each dispatched a three, and the Clippers were 10 of 16 from the foul line. The Giants totaled six threes and made three of eight foul shots.
On the Waterville court, the Clippers were ahead for much of the game but faded in the second half.
Both teams had a sluggish first half. Simonette put in the first Clipper basket for a 2-2 tie. Smith and Nathan Seeman added buckets, Zuelke dumped in a pair of free throws, and with a Seeman three, the Clippers deadlocked the game at 11.
The Buccaneers put in a basket to go ahead but didn’t score again for the final four minutes. With a Smith basket and a Seeman free throw, the Clippers led 14-13 at the break.
The Bucs put in a basket with an and-one to start the second half. Smith stole and tossed to Simonette for a bucket and then assisted a Heldberg base line drive for two points that put the Clippers in front 18-16. Heldberg made two of three free shots, and Smith took a Ternes pass down the baseline for a bucket, but WEM hit a three to knot the game 22-22.
Heldberg made two more freebies, but the Bucs capitalized on another three-point play and then a steal for a 27-22 lead. Brink tossed down court to Heldberg for a basket that placed the Clippers within a point.
Later, setting up shop in the corner, Heldberg cashed in on a shot from behind the arc to stalemate the game 33-33, but the Bucs replied with a three and a two.
Heldberg went to the opposite corner for a three, but the Bucs scored six of the next eight points to go in front 44-38 with a minute left. Smith scored inside, but the Bucs made a free throw, rebounded after a missed second free throw and dumped in a basket to seal the triumph.
With 16 points, all in the second half and including a pair of threes, Heldberg led the Clipper effort. Smith had eight points. Seeman added six points with half of them coming from beyond the arc. Simonette had a bucket in each half for four points. Zuelke had two points in the first half, and Brink chipped in a basket in the second half.
The Clippers made nine of 16 free shots. The Bucs also put in a trio of threes and were successful in 10 of 12 charity shots.
Above: Tanner Simonette dribbles to the basket under pressure from an LSH defender.
Zayden Linder shoots between two LSH defenders.
Tanner Simonette reaches up to block an LSH shot.
Nathan Seeman confronts a Waterville-Elysian-Morristown defender.
Garrett Heldberg grabs a pass into the corner of the Waterville court.
Nathan Brink puts up a shot as a Buc defender reaches out for a block.
Braeden Smith coils for a shot as two WEM defenders try to swat it down.