With a 41-26 win over host Mankato Loyola on Monday, the C boys upped their record to 3-0.
A Pierce Lyons free basket turned on the scoreboard. Jake Mueller followed with an inside bucket for the first two of his dozen points. After Loyola scored from the baseline, Zander Linder ran in a layup. Mueller grabbed a rebound from his own shot and scored, but the Crusaders responded with a three to deadlock the score 7-7.
Jeremy Miller went on a roll with a trio of inside baskets that put the Clippers in front 13-10. Brayden Seeman took a Lyons pass in for a bucket, and Linder scored again, but the Crusaders scored the final two baskets of the half, and the Clippers only led by three, 18-15 at the break.
The freshmen Clippers suffered a scoring drought early in the second half, and the Crusaders scored the first six points. Five minutes into the frame, Creidin Lee broke up the run with a layup that started a 9-point Clipper spurt. The rally included a Mueller baseline drive for a bucket, a Miller turnaround jumper and a Luke Kortuem three for a 27-21 Clipper advantage.
The Clippers never looked back from there. Seeman plunged a three, Mueller dumped in a couple more buckets, and Lyons scored twice from the baseline as the Clippers cruised to the victory.
All of Mueller’s points came from the floor. Miller added eight points. Seeman, Kortuem and Lyons each posted five points. Linder put in two first-half buckets for four total points. Lee chipped in a basket.
Loyola put in one three and four of 14 free throw attempts. Only making three of 15 free shots, the Clippers struggled at the foul line. Kortuem and Seeman each bagged a three.
The C boys host Alden-Conger/Glenville-Emmons on Thursday and travel to Medford on Friday.
Above: Jake Mueller makes a move inside.
Pierce Lyons bounces a pass.