Knocking at the door to a first victory, the Clippers' 47-41 loss to visiting Sleepy Eye Public on Monday was closer than the score indicated.
So their confidence was riding high as their bus pulled into Nicollet a day later, especially since the Raiders were also still looking for their first win.
The two teams were neck-and-neck for the first 10 minutes or so, but Cleveland’s 6-5 junior Carter Barto, who has typically been the team’s leading scorer, hobbled off the floor with a knee injury, and the Raiders went on to lead 28-19 at the break.
While Barto iced his knee in the second half, the Clippers never gave up. Blake Lyons missed, grabbed the rebound and put it back up, and Jorden Rossow sunk a three to pull the Clippers within three, 59-56 with 18 seconds remaining, but that was as close as the Clippers could get.
Barto on the floor would have easily made the difference, but his knee, the same one he had surgery on a year ago, gave out twice, and there was no way that head coach Mike Meyer could take the risk.
“It’s heartbreaking all around, but when you lose somebody like that who came out dominating, but at the same time we got in foul trouble right away, so some of our best guys were playing timid. It’s a lot of adversity to face: to lose Barto and have your four starters get bummed out of the game, but they still brought it down to the wire.”
Lyons put in a jump shot for the game’s first basket and then made the second of two foul shots for a 3-0 lead before the Raiders dumped in a three, stole and scored and scored again when the Clippers let the ball go out of bounds.
But Barto grabbed a loose ball and score inside, and Kale Kelly hit a jumper and then pulled down an offensive rebound and scored to put the Clippers up 9-7. Nicollet sunk another three, but Barto popped in a jump shot that put the Clippers back in front by a point before he exited.
Kyle Connor scored inside, and Lyons scored from behind the arc and made three free shots, but the Raiders dominated the rest of the half.
Six threes, a pair by Lyons and Rossow and one each off the hands of Kelley and Connor got the Clippers back in the game in the second half.
With 24 points, Lyons, who never lets up his intensity, led all players. Kelley had 10 points. Connor and Rossow each had nine points. Barto had for points.
The Clippers were nine of 16 from the foul line and dropped in seven threes, a trio from Lyons, two from Rossow, and one each from Kelley and Connor. Nicollet also had seven threes and were 11 of 29 in free-throw shooting.
Jordan Schmidt, Alex Johnson, Dakota Alitz and Nathan Strobel checked in the game after Lyons, Connor and Gabe Sullivan fouled out. Brady Bostic played in the first half but that was it as he played both halves on B squad.
“We had some guys step up and were willing to do whatever we asked them to do,” Meyer said. “We went through our whole bench tonight.”
On Monday, Sleepy Eye Public led 28-17 at the break.
The Clippers went on a 10-point run to pull within four, 43-39 with 1:49 remaining and were within two with 1:15 left.
But the Clippers had to foul, and the Indians made four three throws in the last 24 seconds to wrap up the win.
“We came out pretty flat,” said Meyer. “Even in the second half we came out flat, but then they brought the energy that we know we are capable of bringing. It stinks to lose, but at the same time it gives them the passion to know they can compete and win a game.”
With three foul baskets, a pair of twos and a three, Lyons led the Clippers with 10 points. Kelley had eight points. Sullivan and Rossow each had seven points and each put in a three. Barto had five points. Connor put in two baskets from the floor for four points.
The Clippers made eight of a dozen free shots. Sleepy Eye had a trio of threes and were 12 of 21 in free-throw shooting.
The varsity boys return to action today (Friday) when they host Granada-Huntley-East Chain/Truman/Martin Luther.
Barto re-tore ligaments in the same knee that kept him out all but two games of last year’s basketball season, baseball season and the first football game this fall and will not return to the floor this season.
Above: Carter Barto grabs a rebound during the game at Nicollet. Later he suffered a knee injury that will keep him out of the rest of the season.
Kale Kelley brings the ball down court.
Gabe Sullivan and Kyle Connor on defense.
Jorden Rossow eyes the rim.
Kyle Connor stretches for a jump shot.
With 24 points, Blake Lyons led all scorers at Nicollet.
Carter Barto battles Sleepy Eye defenders (Photo courtesy of Patty Sullivan).