With a win over visiting Granada-Huntley-East Chain/Truman/Martin Luther on Tuesday, the seventh-grade boys added to their 5-0 unbeaten streak. After, the eighth-grade team beat the Jaguars 56-46 to improve their record to 2-3.
The seventh-grade Clippers won the jump and scored right after when Abel Hastings took a Lincoln Ernsting assist in for a bucket. Ernsting followed with a jump shot from the baseline for four more points. Griffin Rutz ran in a pair of layups, and the Clippers were quickly up 8-zip.
The Jaguars responded with a free throw and a three. Hastings scored inside, but the Jags hit a basket from outside to pull within four, 10-6.
From there, Jacob Walser pulled down his own rebound and put it back up for a basket in the start of a 19-point run, which also featured baskets by Ernsting, Rutz, Hastings, Charlie Mons and Bo Kortuem before Zack Miller drove to the hoop put the Clippers way up front, 29-6.
The Jaguars posted the next six points, but with an Ernsting bucket inside and a Mons layup, the Clippers led 33-12 at the break before cruising to the victory.
With a dozen points, Rutz paced the Clippers. Hastings totaled 10 points. Ernsting and Mons each had six points. Walser had five point. Miller added four points. Gabe Anderson buried a three. Kortuem, Miles Reintjes and Jose Castro each chipped in two points.
Eighth grade 56, GHEC/T/ML 46
A Mons jumper from the paint was the game’s first basket. The Jags scored from inside, but Rutz popped in a couple of outside basket, Jonathan Cink took a Rutz assist in for a bucket, and Chase Roemhildt made a move inside for a basket that put the Clippers in front 10-4.
Later, Bray Lassiter got into the action with a bucket, and Rutz and Hastings continued to add points for a 29-17 Clipper lead at the intermission.
Trailing by 10, the Jags went on a 7-point spurt early midway through the second half. Hastings scored inside to stop the rally, but the Jags buried a three to pull within a basket, 39-37 with 6:30 remaining.
But Rutz parked a jumper and Hastings took a Cink handoff in for a layup to give the Clippers a little more breathing room. The Jags put in a free throw, but Hastings, fouled on a shot from behind the arc, made two of three baskets from the free throw strip to put the Clippers in front 45-38.
With five trips to the foul line, the Jagas had a chance to narrow their deficit, but they only came up with three more points. Meanwhile, Hastings canned a bucket from a distance and Lassiter, took the ball inside twice and made a free throw for five-straight points.
The Jags scored twice more before Roemhildt grabbed an O rebound and put it back up for a basket. Rutz scored the final two points.
With 17 points, Hastings led the Clipper offense. Rutz added 14 points, and Mons had 10 points. Lassiter contributed seven points. Roemhildt had six points, and Cink chipped in a basket.
Off for the holidays, the junior high boys return to action on January 6 when both teams play at Mt. Olive (Mankato).
Above: Griffin Rutz runs in a layup during the seventh-grade game.
Charles Mons eyes the basket as a defender leaps for a block during the seventh-grade game.
Seventh graders on defense. Out front is Gabe Anderson. On the left is Jacob Walser, and on the right is Abel Hastings.
Abel Hastings hands off to Bray Lassiter under the bucket.