Clipper boys upset Madelia; Lyons joins 1K career-point club

For Carson Lyons, Thursday night was all about the triumph: handing Valley Conference rival Madelia its first loss of the season and upping the Clippers’ record to 5-7.

Scoring the seven points he needed for induction into the Clippers’ exclusive 1000 Career-Point Club was just a perk along the way.

“It was a matter of not forcing it and trying to win as a team as obviously the game’s more important,” said the junior. “The points just came with the flow of the game, and after that, it was back to basketball.”

The Blackhawks, who were ranked 10th in the state coming in but whose leading scorer—who scored 40 points against the Clippers in their season-opening 102-70 loss in Madelia— was out with a leg injury, turned on the scoreboard with a three. Braeden Smith responded with a backwards layup, but the Blackhawks, still a formidable force, drove inside for the next two buckets.

It was a trade of baskets after. For the Clippers. Mason Kluntz drove a Miles Tomaszewski assist in for a bucket, and Alex Kortuem plunged in a three. Off the bench, Garrett Heldberg pulled down an offensive rebound and tossed it back up for a bucket to deadlock the score at 13.

After netting a pair of free throws, Lyons was five points away from 1000. With the Clippers continuing to spread their offense around, Tomaszewski ran in a reverse layup for a 17-17 tie, but starting with a Smith basket from three-point country, the Clippers took a lead they would never relinquish.

Running in a swanky layup, Smith scored again, and Kortuem bagged a jumper and then made an inside basket after a quick Smith steal and assist, and the Clippers, on a nine-point spurt, were suddenly in front 26-17.

Madelia responded with a three, but Tomaszewski cancelled it. Poised behind the arc, Lyons cashed in on a Smith kickout that put the Clippers in front 32-20. Less than two minutes later, Lyons pulled up at the top of the key and buried another three for a 36-26 Clipper advantage and 1001 varsity career points.

Time out: Lyons’ career…so far

As an eighth grader Lyons joined the varsity team midway through the season after recovering from a shattered collarbone. He played 13 games that year, got into the starting lineup and scored 34 two-point baskets, seven threes and made 14 free throws for a total of 103 points. He also pulled down 55 rebounds, dished off 24 assists and came away with 20 steals.

As a freshman, he was second among his teammates in total points (268) and second in three-point baskets (28). He was also second in rebounds (177), second in assists (74), first in assist-to-turnovers (1.09), first in steals (48) and had the highest free throw percentage (78 percent).

Last year, Lyons, behind senior Brennan Kortuem, was second in points scored (401) and three pointers made. He led the Clippers in shooting percentage, free throw percentage, rebounds, assists and steals.

This year, as the season has progressed—although his instinct is to share the wealth—Lyons has stepped up to fill Kortuem’s role as a play maker, scoring inside and outside and drawing the foul. Coming into the Madelia game, he had 221 points.

Back to the action

After a quick recognition of Lyon’s achievement, play resumed.

As the half drew to a close, Lyons sunk another three and then stole and drove from coast-to-coast for a layup that put the Clippers in front 40-28 at the break.

With five more two-point baskets and a pair of free baskets from Lyons, a pair of threes, a two-point basket and a free throw from Tomaszewski, seven points from Kluntz and a basket and six free baskets by Smith, the Clippers outscored the Blackhawks 36-34 in the second half to seal the victory.

It was the first over Madelia since the Clippers’ 2023 home opener.

“Everyone played the game of their life tonight,” said head coach Mike Meyer. “We had a lot of energy coming in. I felt we were really prepared. We had two good days of practice. The guys were focused. They wanted this game more than anything. The real test was ‘can we show up and put two halves together?’ and we did.”

With 25 points, Lyons led all players.

“Carson’s 1000 points was the cherry on top,” Meyer said. “He is such a good leader. If he scored zero and we won the game, that was all that mattered to him. Obviously Madelia is down with their best player hurt, but they’re still a really good team. Their style of play is really difficult to play against. Kudos to them because they stayed in that game. I wasn’t really comfortable until maybe until a minute left when I finally could take a breath. To knock off an undefeated state-ranked team, that always feels good.”

Smith totaled 17 points. Tomaszewski scored 14 points with nine of them coming from behind the arc. Kluntz added 11 points before fouling out in the final seconds. Kortuem had seven points, and Heldberg chipped in a basket.

The Clippers were 14 of 24 from the foul line and made eight of 22 three-point attempts and 19 of 49 two-point shots. Madelia was 13 of 21 from the free throw line and made two of 17 three-point shots and 20 of 45 two-point shots

With 19 offensive rebounds and 31 defensive rebounds, the Clippers did a good job cleaning up on the glass. Madelia pulled down 12 offensive rebounds and 27 defensive rebounds.

The Clippers made 11 steals, four blocks and turned the ball over 19 times compared to 14 steals, five blocks and 24 turnovers for the Blackhawks.

Lyons had 11 rebounds, four assists, one steal and one block. Smith had six rebounds, three assists, four steals and one block, Kluntz had 10 rebounds and three steals. Tomaszewski had eight rebounds, five assists, two steals and one block. Kortuem had two rebounds, two assists, one steal and one block. Heldberg had three rebounds. Jack Mons had four rebounds. Gavin Struck had two rebounds.

“Braeden played the style of play we need him to play every night,” Meyer said. “He made effort plays. He made every rebound he could get. He was on the floor. Alex was on the floor. Mason played absolutely incredible. I’ve said it before, Mason doesn’t get a lot of points. You don’t see it on the scoreboard, but the effort plays that he makes…he works his tail off every game. Miles made huge effort plays. He really stood up to the challenge. Jack Mons came in and took care of the ball. Garrett came in and got in a little foul trouble but played well. When he was in the game, he was making a big difference on the boards.”

The Clippers were coming off a win over host Martin County West. Before that, they lost to visiting Sleepy Eye St. Mary's and host Waterville-Elysian-Morristown.

Cleveland 75, Martin County West 61

The Monday before, the Clippers beat Martin County West in Sherburn 75-61. With 18 points, Lyons led the Clippers to a 39-29 lead at the break and totaled 29 points, including three threes and eight free baskets.

Kortuem also made a trio of threes and totaled 14 points. Smith had a dozen points. Mons added seven points, including one three. Kluntz had five points, and Luke Heldberg, Garrett Heldberg, Struck and Killian Kunkel each had two points.

The Clippers made 19 of 46 two-point shots, seven of 26 shots from behind the arc and 16 of 27 free throws while the Mavericks put in 17 of 33 two-point shots, six of 26 three-point attempts and nine of 21 free throws.

The Clippers pulled down 43 rebounds, five fewer than MCW, and turned the ball over 22 times, 10 fewer than the Mavericks.

Lyons had seven rebounds, four assists and six steals. Kluntz had four rebounds and one steal. Garrett Heldberg had one rebound. Struck had one assist and one steal. Luke Heldberg had one rebound. Kortuem had seven rebounds, three assists and three steals. Tomaszewski had seven rebounds and two steals. Smith had seven rebounds, one assist and two steals. Mons had three rebounds, one assist and one steal.

Sleepy Eye St. Mary’s 71, Cleveland 65

A week before the Madelia game, the Clippers lost at home to Sleepy Eye St. Mary’s.

With 10 points from Lyons and nine points by Mons in their offensive mix, the Clippers only trailed by three points, 33-30, at the break. Three points were also the difference in the second half.

Lyons totaled 28 points with a dozen of them coming from three-point land. Mons added a dozen points, including one three. Kluntz contributed six points. Kortuem had five points, including one three. Smith, fighting through an injury, was limited to four points. Struck also had four points. Garrett Heldberg and Tomaszewski each made one three.

The Clippers made 18 of 47 two-point attempts, eight of 20 tries from three-point land and five of nine free throws. SESM made 23 of 39 two-point attempts, five of 28 three-point shots and 10 of 15 free throws.

The Clippers turned the ball over eight times, one fewer than the Knights. The Knights outrebounded the Clippers 47-36.

Lyons had seven rebounds, four assists and two steals. Smith had two rebounds, two assists and one block. Kluntz had 10 rebounds, one assist and three steals. Tomaszewski had two rebounds, one assist and one steal. Kortuem had four rebounds and four assists. Struck had one rebound and one assist. Garrett Heldberg had three rebounds and one assist. Mons had four rebounds and two steals.

Waterville-Elysian-Morristown 70, Cleveland 56

Back on January 3, the Clippers fell 70-56 at Waterville. Lyons put in a layup for the game’s first basket, but the Bucs responded with 13-straight points. The Clippers, who trailed 34-25 at the break, played even the rest of the way but never overcame the early deficit.

Lyons had 17 points, including one of the Clippers’ three three-point baskets. Smith scored a dozen points. Kluntz had five points. Tomaszewski also made five points, including three. Mons and the Heldberg brothers each had four points. Kortuem put in a three. Struck added two points.

The Clippers made 21 of 53 two-point shots, three of 11 threes and five of 24 free shots while the Bucs made 19 of 41 two-point shots, seven of 31 threes and 11 of 21 free throws.

The Bucs grabbed 52 rebounds and had 19 turnovers while the Clipper hauled in 45 rebounds and committed 20 turnovers.

Lyons had seven rebounds. Kluntz had nine rebounds, two assists and one block. Tony Hollerich had one rebound and one assist. Garrett Heldberg had four rebounds. Struck had one rebound and two steals. Luke Heldberg had four rebounds. Kortuem had four rebounds and three steals. Tomaszewski had one rebound, one assist, one steal and one bock. Mons had three rebounds and one steal.

The Clippers return to action tomorrow (Tuesday) when they travel to Nicollet. Earlier in the season, they lost to the visiting Raiders 81-56. With a 10-3 overall record, their only Valley loss was to Madelia.

Above: Carson Lyons and his teammates: Tony Hollerich, Jack Mons, Charlie Perkins, Alex Kortuem, Garrett Heldberg, Mason Kluntz, Bode Bartell, Miles Tomaszewski, Gavin Struck, Luke Heldberg, Sam Ternes, Braeden Smith, Wyatt Krenik, Jack Anderson and Killian Kunkel.

1K point club Some of the boys basketball 1000-Point Club members were on hand to witness Carson Lyons’ matriculation into their group. They are Carter Kopet (2018 graduate, 1905 points), Austin Plonsky (2018 graduate, 1953 points), Jaiden Zishka (2017 graduate, 1249 points), Bill Matejcek (1960 graduate, 1554 points) and Matt Miller (2008 graduate, 1211 points). Also in the club are Tom Kraft (2013 graduate, 1859 points), Ben Holden (2912 graduate, 1491 points), Brennan Kortuem (2025 graduate, 1415 points, 1094 as a Clipper) and the late Robert “Buck” Wendelschafer (1962 graduate, 1138 points).