Section 2A top seed Janesville-Waldorf-Pemberton was too much for the Cleveland boys on Thursday, ending the Clipper season in the quarterfinals with a 92-65 win.
The game was played in the St. Peter High School gym.
“I felt pretty confident going into it,” said head coach Mike Meyer. “We’ve been playing our best basketball at the end of the season, but they’re number one for a reason.”
The Bulldogs drove inside for the game’s first basket, but the Clippers responded when Carson Lyons took a Braeden Smith handoff back over the three-point line and pumped in a bucket. After a couple of Bulldog shots caromed off the rim, the Clippers went in front 5-2 when Mason Kluntz grabbed an offensive rebound and took it inside for a basket.
The Bulldogs scored again from under the rim, but Lyons assisted a Smith jumper from the paint for a 7-4 Cleveland advantage. JWP bagged a three from the corner to deadlock the game 7-7 and sank a pair of free shots to lead by two at the 13:53 mark.
The Bulldogs were never behind from there.
Picking up the tempo, the Bulldogs pulled down an offensive board and ran it back in for a layup to lead 11-7. While the Clippers were off target, the Bulldogs parked another three from the corner, drove inside for a basket and cashed in on a steal at midcourt and picked up a Clipper overthrow into their half of the court and ran it in for a layup to lead 20-7.
“I thought we did well those first couple of pushes, but then they go on that big run,” Meyer said. “They were playing really fast, and we weren’t getting back to transition. It’s tough to get in a deficit against a team that good, but we had our moments.”
The Clippers briefly stopped the rally when they grabbed a couple of offensive rebounds and Lyons put in a jumper from the paint, but the Bulldogs kept the pressure on to take a 40-21 lead into the locker room before outscoring the Clippers 52-14 in the second half to cruise to the triumph.
“We showed our hearts the whole game,” Meyers said. “I never have to worry about that because they are going to give everything they have the whole game, and they did that. It’s easy to get frustrated, but they laid it all out there. I just wish it would have been a better outcome.”
The Clippers were successful in 17 of 49 two-point shots (35 percent), nine of 37 threes (24 percent) and four of eight free shots. JWP made 26 of 43 two-point shots (61 percent), 10 of 31 attempts from behind the arc (32 percent) and 10 of 13 free throws.
With 22 points, including two threes, Lyons led the Clipper effort. Miles Tomaszewski bagged four threes, all in the second half, and totaled 18 points. Smith put in a first-half basket from the floor and a three and a free shot in the second half for six points. Kluntz had two first half baskets and a free basket for five total points. With a first half three and a second half two, Alex Kortuem also totaled five points. Bode Bartell put in a three in the second half. Jack Mons made a second half basket.
Sending a positive message to his younger players, Meyer cleared the bench in the final minutes, and Luke Heldberg put in a basket in that campaign as did Jack Anderson.
The Clippers pulled down 22 offensive rebounds and 26 defensive rebounds. They turned the ball over 14 times but made a dozen steals. JWP had 13 offensive rebounds, 39 defensive rebounds and turned the ball over 15 times. They stole from the Clippers nine times.
Lyons had seven rebounds, four assists and three steals. Smith had six rebounds, four assists, two steals and two blocks. Bartell had five rebounds and one steal. Kluntz had seven rebounds, and two blocks. Kortuem had eight rebounds and four assists. Tomaszewski had four rebounds, one assist and three steals. Mons had one rebound and two steals. Garrett Heldberg had two rebounds, one steal and one black. Tony Hollerich had one assist. Charlie Perkins had one rebound. Anderson had one rebound and one block. Killian Kunkel had one rebound. Luke Heldberg had one rebound. Gavin Struck also got in the game.
The Clippers end their season with a 13-14 record. Last year they were 10-15.
It was the last time in a Clipper basketball uniform for seniors Bartell, Kortuem, Struck, Kluntz and Kunkel.
The Bulldogs went on to beat Nicollet 75-58 on the GAC court the following Monday to head to the section championship. On the MSU,M court on Wednesday, JWP will take on Springfield, which downed Madelia 93-63 to advance to the championship.
Above: Mason Kluntz runs in a shot. He missed. The Clippers rebounded and missed again, but Kluntz was there for the rebound, and this time his shot fell through the net for Clipper points four and five.
Bode Bartell makes his way toward the hoop under pressure.
Braeden Smith dribbles down the baseline.
Alex Kortuem grabs a rebound.
Gavin Struck brings the ball down court.
Carson Lyons pounds his way to the hoop.
Killian Kunkel fights for a loose ball.
Jack Mons coils for a one-handed shot.
Miles Tomaszewski races after a runaway ball.
The student section was all in camo.