With power forwards, hot-shot guards and a 6-6 center, the 2021 varsity Clippers’ tool shed is better equipped than it’s been for a while.
The Clippers didn’t use all their tools as well as they could have when they took on Martin County West in Sherburn on Saturday, but they left town with a 55-41 season-opening triumph.
“We’ve got all the pieces,” said Dan Fredrickson, who is now in his ninth season as the Clippers’ head coach. “We’ve got good bigs. We’ve got guys who can finish around the rim. Isaac (Mueller) is a good play maker…Elijah (Sullivan) and Jackson (Meyer)…shooters around them. Cam (Cameron Seely) can come in and do the hustle plays. Offensively, I think this is as good as a team we’ve had since Carter (Kopet), Austin (Plonsky) and Jaiden (Zishka).”
But Fredrickson said that the Clippers have to learn to put their abilities to better use. The Mavericks did a nice job doubling up inside, he said, but the Clippers need to exploit that, moving the ball inside out and confusing the defense with X action.
“Tonight we needed to get that ball inside a little bit more and play a little more methodical on offense. Let’s rotate the basketball, especially against the zone.”
Sullivan drove to the rim for the game’s first basket. Eric Rohlfing scored from inside, and Ben Holden (above) sunk a hook shot and then a pair of freebies. After Rohlfing took a cross-court Mueller assist in for a layup, the Clippers led 10-0 before the Mavericks made a couple shots from the foul line.
With a trio of threes, the Mavericks pulled within a point, 16-15.
“We got that lead early and started to shoot some poor shots,” Fredrickson said.
But Rohlfing scored on a layup, Alex McCabe made a steal and assist to Holden, and then Holden rebound and scored for six-straight Cleveland points.
“Al (McCabe) did an exceptional job tonight on a lot of help plays,” Fredrickson said.
With threes by Mueller, Sullivan and Holden, the Clippers led 35-28 at the intermission.
Rohlfing’s three was the first basket of the second half. Later, the Mavericks, running a quick offense, made a seven-point spurt to pull within five, 42-37, but Mueller scored from behind the arc and then inside to put the Clippers back up by 10.
“Defensively, playing in the bottom of our zone early in the second half we did a nice job,” Fredrickson said. “I was pleased with our defense, what we did and what we took away because they are a dangerous offensive team with a shooter. When they get rolling, they are really good.”
Holden’s three from the corner with 2:50 left gave the Clippers an 11-point lead, and they slowed down play after that to seal the victory.
“For us, I think it is just getting away from playing ourselves in practice,” Fredrickson said. “I think we could have gotten that lead up a little higher. It was just sloppy at times, but it comes with not having played competitively all summer and being the first game of the year, but it was the first game for them too.”
Holden led all scorers with 21 points. He also grabbed a dozen rebounds. Mueller scored 15 points, and Rohlfing scored 13 points.
The players had to wear masks, and that took some getting used to, but all five time outs now are one minute instead of three of them only 30 seconds.
“We should probably sub a little more,” Fredrickson said. “We don’t have the deepest bench right now. Longer time outs help out.”
“It’s definitely more tiring,” Rohlfing said. “If you’re fresh off the bench it’s not terrible, but after three or four possessions, you have to pull it away.”
The Clippers return to action on Thursday when they host Lake Crystal-Wellcome Memorial.
Cleveland 35 20 55
MCW 25 16 41
Points 55 (Ben Holden 21, Eric Rohlfing 13, Isaac Mueller 15, Elijah Sullivan 4, Cameron Seely 4)
Rebounds 30 (Holden 12, Rohlfing 7, Mueller 5, Sullivan 6)
Assists 16 (Holden 3, Rohlfing 2, Mueller 6, McCabe 3, Sullivan 2)
Steals 13 (Rohlfing 2, Mueller 4, McCabe 2, Sullivan 4, Seely 1)
Blocks 2 (Rohlfing 1, Sullivan 1)
Turnovers 16
2FG 16-28 (57%)
3FG 6-19 (32%) (Holden 2, Rohlfing 1, Mueller 3)
FT 6-10 (60%)
Elijah Sullivan drives to the hoop.
Eric Rohlfing Muscles his way inside.
Isaac Mueller drives down court.
Cameron Seely fights his way under the rim.
Alex McCabe wrestles for a rebound.