While the seventh-grade boys fell as a team to visiting Martin County West in junior high basketball on Monday, a core group of seventh graders went on to celebrate a victory as members the eighth-grade team as they easily downed the Mavericks.
MCW 43, Cleveland seventh 39
Jacob Walser ran in a layup for the game’s first basket. The Mavericks responded with a bucket, but Griffin Rutz scored from the baseline, Walser hauled in an offensive rebound and put it up for a bucket, and Rutz scored again for an 8-4 Clipper advantage.
The Mavericks scored the next four points, including a basket after a steal, to stalemate the score at 10. Rutz drove the baseline for a bucket, and Abel Hastings, in a three-dimensional offensive demonstration, assisted a Walser bucket, took an inbounds pass up and in with a reverse layup and bagged a three for a 17-10 Clipper lead.
The Mavericks posted the next six points. William Zimmerman got into the action with an offensive rebound and basket. The Mavericks scored once more in the half to pull within a point, but three seconds before the buzzer, Charlie Mons plunged in a three for a 22-18 Clipper lead at the break.
With two-point baskets by Rutz, Mons and Walser and a Hastings three in their offensive mix, the Clippers extended their lead early in the second half. Zimmerman scored again, and Bo Kortuem rebounded and scored to put the Clippers in front 37-29.
But Jesse Hastings’s young Clippers improve as a team, and the rest of the game was a lesson on fighting through adversity as the Mavericks outscored the Clippers 14-2 for the comeback triumph.
Rutz totaled 10 points. Walser added nine points. Hastings put in a basket and two threes for eight points. Mons contributed a basket from both behind the arc and inside it for five total points. Zimmerman had four points. Kortuem put in one two-point basket. Lincoln Ernsting chipped in a free basket.
Cleveland eighth 61, MCW 33
The eighth-grade game was a chance for the more experienced players to shine though as they dominated the Mavericks from start to finish. Hastings took the jump ball in for a bucket, and the Clippers, keeping a frantic pace, never looked back.
With Rutz and Hastings teaming up for points, the Clippers led 9-0. The Mavericks scored after a steal, but Mons put in a free basket and drove the lane for a bucket, and Rutz added a free throw before the Mavericks scored again.
Later, with more of the same and Walser and Chase Roemhildt getting into the action, the Clippers had a comfortable 39-12 lead at the break. Keeping the pressure on in the second half, they cruised to the triumph.
“It’s been the last three weeks we’ve installed a 1-3-1 zone, and that was working really well,” coach Hastings said.
Hastings stuffed the scorebook with 17 points. Mons and Rutz each added a baker’s dozen. Walser had 10 points. and Roemhildt and Carson Jindra each contributed four points.
The eighth-grade Clippers were coming off a second-place finish in a Valley Conference tournament in Alden on Saturday. They fell to Alden-Conger in the championship. On Tuesday, both teams dispatched visiting St. Clair, and on Thursday they beat host Madelia.
The seventh-grade team will return to action on Tuesday when they host Nicollet. On Thursday, both teams take on Mankato Loyola in the gym on Good Counsel Hill.
Above: A Martin County West defender runs into Charlie Mons during the eighth-grade game.
Jacob Walser runs in a layup under pressure during the seventh-grade game.
Evan Hoffmann maneuvers on the baseline during the eighth-grade game.
Carson Jindra coils for a shot during the eighth-grade game.
An MCW defender reaches out to stop an Abel Hastings drive during the seventh-grade game.
MCW defenders close in on Lincoln Ernsting during the seventh-grade game.
Gabe Anderson runs the ball across the arc during the seventh-grade game.
Griffin Rutz battles his way to the bucket during the seventh-grade game.
Abel Hastings tosses the ball inside during the seventh-grade game.