St. Clair came to Cleveland’s little gym on Tuesday and beat the Clippers 39-28 in eighth-grade basketball action.
The Cyclones followed a layup with a three-point basket to go up 5-0. Caleb Connor (above) scored first for the Clippers when he pulled down a rebound from a missed free throw and tossed it up and in for a basket.
Braeden Smith rebounded and scored, Carsyn Ryg made a basket from outside the lane, and Henry Boelter took a Smith handoff inside for an 8-5 Clipper advantage.
But the Cyclones scored the next nine points for a lead they would never relinquish.
Smith drove the baseline for a basket, but the Cyclones followed with a pair of free baskets to go in front 16-10. The Clippers closed the gap when Connor flung in a three-point basket just in front of the buzzer for a 16-13 halftime score.
St. Clair surged for seven points after the break. Charlie Perkins took a Connor pass in for a bucket, but the Cyclones responded with a basket to maintain a 10-point lead.
Connor grabbed a Smith pass and scored, and Smith also assisted Ryg for a basket and then knocked down a three himself, but St. Clair, still leading 29-22, went on another run, this time for eight points.
Connor drove for a basket, Smith stole, and Connor hit a jumper down the stretch, but the Cyclones held on for the win.
Connor led the effort with 11 points. Smith had nine points. Perkins, Ryg and Boelter each chipped in a basket.
Combined with the seventh graders, the eighth graders downed Martin County West in Sherburn on Friday. They travel to Mankato to take on Loyola on Monday. On Thursday, they face Le Sueur-Henderson at Le Sueur High School.
Zaiden Linder drives through the lane before reversing the ball back out.
Braeden Smith moves toward the hoop.