Varsity boys head into holiday break with third win

Christmas came early for the varsity boys on Tuesday when they downed visiting Kenyon-Wanamingo 86-70 for their third win this season.

The Clippers rolled out of the gate to a 21-point lead. The Knights rallied after to deadlock the game at the break, but the second half belonged to the Clippers.

Head coach Mike Meyer said that it’s a big benefit to go into the holiday break with a win, and the Clippers should use the time off to realize they are rapidly coming together as a team to be taken seriously.

“It helps us go in and rediscover ourselves. Once we realize we’re that kind of team, it will be tough to beat us.”

Miles Tomaszewski went down the chimney with a three for the game’s first points. On his way to 28 points, Carson Lyons followed with a bucket from under the rim.

The Knights responded with a basket, but Tomaszewski put in a two that started a 17-point Clipper run. It featured a Mason Kluntz inside basket with Lyons on the assist, a Braeden Smith basket from the corner and a couple of Lyons baskets, the first on a baseline drive after a Smith steal and the second after a Tomaszewski steal, and pair of Tomaszewski threes.

The Knights managed a three, but, off the bench, Jack Mons hit a jumper, and Tomaszewski made a quick steal after it and drove in for a bucket that put the Clippers in front 26-5.

“Some of that was defense helping us out,” said Meyer. “Some of it was that we passed the ball really well and found great shots to take.”

“Everyone was hitting shots. It was fun,” said Smith. “We rebounded really well.”

But trailing 27-7, the Knights rallied for a dozen-straight points and outscored the Clippers 15-7 from there to stalemate the game 34-34 at the break.

Smith said scoring rallies are part of basketball.

“We had our run. They had their run.”

But Meyer said for this year's version of the Clippers, it gets down to self-assuredness: once they go ahead by a wide or unexpected margin, uncertainty sets in.

“They get up by that much, and they are not even sure they should be up by that much, and the other team creeps back into it. We have seen that a few times this year.”

But, getting back into the spirit, the Clippers scored 11 of the first 13 points of the second half. Later, with Lyons dashing through the lane for buckets, the Clippers went on another 13-point spurt and never looked back.

“We came out in the second half ready to play,” Smith said. “(Coach Meyer) said at halftime defense needs to improve. Keep talking.”

“We played that one-three-one really well at the beginning, but it’s not something we’ve repped a ton,” Meyer said. “We’re trying to get better at it. Guys have got to figure out where they have to be, especially when the weak side is help side. They weren’t getting their slides properly. Then we talked briefly about offense. As we get pressured, we start to take poor shots. We talked about breaking the pressure and then get into something that can find us a good shot.”

Meyer said the Clippers did a lot better managing their game in the second half.

“Carson took control for a while and played really great. That’s exactly what we need to see out of him. He’s good enough to know when he can go and create his own shots or find somebody else, and that makes it easier for the guys around him to be able to step in and make plays.”

Lyons stuffed the Clipper Christmas stocking with 10 two-point baskets, one three and five free shots. Tomaszewski decorated the scoreboard with 18 points, a dozen of them from three-point country. Kluntz trimmed the scorebook with 11 points. Smith, Mons and Kortuem each wrapped up eight points with Kortuem dropping in two threes and Smith bagging one three. Gavin Struck sprinkled in three points, and Garrett Heldberg put in a bucket.

“Mason was a monster underneath grabbing rebounds and going back up strong and getting fouled,” Meyer said. “That was great to see. I thought a lot of guys played really well tonight. Miles was on a little heater there for a while. Alex played really well again. That is his new identity. He is just a hustle play kind of guy. We saw the floor really well. We didn’t always make the best passes, but we were seeing open guys. We just have to dial in those passes.”

The Clippers were successful in a dozen of 20 foul shots. The Knights put in seven threes, one less than the Clippers and 15 of 24 free throws.

The Clippers return to action on January third when they take on host Waterville. The 1-6 Buccaneers’ only win this season so far was over Kenyon-Wanamingo 86-65.

Above: Carson Lyons has become the heir to last year’s leading scorer Brennan Kortuem.

Mason Mason Kluntz makes a move under the rim.