A positive for the Clipper basketball program in what has been a season of struggles is that eighth-grade spark plug Carson Lyons is back in a Clipper uniform for the first time since suffering an injury in the final varsity football game last fall.
With 10 points at St. Clair on Monday, Lyons, in his first basketball outing this season, led the Clipper C boys, but they still fell hard to the Cyclones, 52-21.
The C squad is still looking for its first victory.
Gavin Karels had seven points. Nathan Seeman (above) and Killian Kunkel each chipped in two points.
The Clippers were behind 32-9 at halftime. Lyons put in their only three, and they were eight of 20 from the foul line. St. Clair had five threes, all off the hands of one player. They were five for nine in free throw shooting.
The Clippers were coming off a pair of close losses. In Alden on December 17, they fell by a basket, 24-22. They trailed 10-8 at the break.
Elijah Mons led the effort with seven points. Karels had five points. Bode Bartell had four points. Seeman had three points. Nathan Brink had two points. Mason Kluntz had one point.
Seeman had the game’s only three-point basket. The Clippers made five of 11 free throws. The Knights were four of 11 from the foul line.
It was even a closer game at Lester Prairie on January 16, when they lost by just a point, 29-28, after leading 15-10 at the break.
Bartell had eight points in the first half and six in the second to lead the Clippers. Kluntz had five points. Kunkel had four points. Seeman had three points. Brink added two points.
The Clippers were four of nine from the free throw line. The Bulldogs had a pair of threes and made one of nine foul shots.
Lyons also played with the B boys at St. Clair.
The C boys will be poised for a victory on Thursday when host a rematch against Alden-Conger.
Mason Kluntz, Nathan Seeman and Gavin Karels tie up a Lester Prairie player. (All photos courtesy of Patty Sullivan)