With a 78-39 loss to host Madelia in the first round of the subsections on Friday, the varsity Clipper boys will mothball their uniforms while first-year coach Mike Meyer will put a 1-25 season behind him and look toward next year.
“I think the future is really bright for this program,” said Meyer. “It was my first year. These guys were really patient with me as I was learning how to be a head coach. I’ve still got a lot to figure out, but I plan on working really hard in the off season. I didn’t get much notice before I took this job, so I didn’t really put much thought in how I wanted to grow the program, but now that I think about it, we’re going to start at a younger age for both boys and girls basketball; start getting youth programs in place and find the right coaches.”
The Madelia bleachers were overflowing for the first home playoff game in at least five years and the opportunity to see senior Ja’Sean Glover score his career 3000th point. He needed 11 going in.
Lucas Walechka put up the Clippers’ first shot, but it went in and then out of the rim. Madelia stole, and then Glover made a basket en route to a 31-point night. Walechka’s next attempt went through the hoop, but Madelia scored a trio of threes to quickly go up 11-2.
Blake Lyons broke the streak with a baseline drive for a bucket, but the Blackhawks responded with another three. Carter Dylla (above) drove in for a layup, and the Blackhawks came back with a three and followed it with a basket and a foul shot for a 20-6 lead.
Later, Lyons battled his way in for a score, and Kolby Gens put in a jumper, but Glover grabbed a defensive rebound and took it down the court for a slam.
Walechka carried a Gens handoff in for a basket, but the Blackhawks burst for 10-points and a 37-12 advantage. Gens put in a jump shot before Glover, at the 3:40 mark, drove inside to reach the 3000-point milestone.
Dylla and Walechka scored for the final Clipper two baskets of the half, and the Blackhawks, who launched in 10 threes, went into the locker room up decisively, 50-18.
Dylla put up a long jumper for the first basket of the second half. Walechka followed up with a jump shot from the baseline for a bucket, but a Glover dunk was the start of a 12-point Madelia run that ended on a Gens jumper.
After seniors Walechka, Gens, Dylla, Ethan Fuller and Colin Krenik left the floor, freshmen Jorden Rossow and Kale Kelley and seventh grader Carson Lyons got some game time.
The young Lyons had a few chances to have scored in a seventh-grade game, an eighth-grade game, a C-squad game, a B squad game and a varsity game this season, but his two outside shots and one inside attempt were just off the rim.
“This junior high class coming up is really special, so I’m really excited about that,” Meyer said. “And we’ve got some younger guys: Blake, Gabe (Sullivan) and Braeden (Hastings) who got a lot of varsity playing time. I really look forward to seeing what they’re like next year. I think if they put in some work in the off season, they’re going to be some great leaders for this team next season.”
Walechka had a dozen points and nine rebounds. Dylla had nine points, including the Clippers’ only basket from behind the arc. Blake Lyons and Gens each had eight points. Gens had six rebounds, and Blake Lyons had five rebounds and two assists. Sullivan had a pair of free throws for two points. Hastings and Krenik each had one rebound, one steal and one assist.
Madelia made 14 threes. Both teams were four from 11 from the foul line. The Clippers committed 13 turnovers and had seven steals.
Meyer also mentioned two players who missed most of the season with injuries, sophomore Carter Barto and senior Jackson Meyer. Meyer was hurt in the second game of the Wabasso kickoff tournament while Meyer, injured in a football game, did manage to get a few minutes in on Parents’ Night.
“Carter was the missing piece this year for sure. Between him and Jackson. It would have made a world of difference if we had two guys like that who were already really dominant and especially with Jackson’s experience. Carter is definitely the biggest piece of the puzzle in the future when you get a dominant post player like that in the game.”
Junior Braeden Hastings dribbles past a defender.
Kolby Gens goes up for a jump shot.
Lucas Walechka pushes his way to the net.
Blake Lyons leaps for a shot.
Colin Krenik coils for a shot.
Carson Lyons faces a defender as he wheels to the basket.
The visitor section had an ample crowd to keep the Clippers fired up.