Suffering a pair of conference losses at home, the B-squad boys fell to Mankato Loyola on Monday 38-21 and to Martin County West 50-31 the Friday before.
The Crusaders scored the first six points. Jordan Schmidt scored from inside, but that was just one of two baskets the Clippers would have in the half. Loyola went on to score the next 15 points. Nathan Strobel put in a jumper just before halftime, and the Clippers trailed 21-4.
The Clippers equaled the Crusaders in the second half though. Kale Kelley, filling in for missing players, put in the first basket of the half. Schmidt scored from inside, and Brady Bostic (on the drive above) plonked in a three, but the Crusaders still led 30-11.
Kelley drove for a basket, made a free throw and sunk a three for the following Clipper points. As the game drew to a close, Alex Johnson pulled down an offensive rebound and scored and then hooked a shot in.
Kelley led the effort with eight points. Schmidt and Johnson each had four points. With the Clippers’ only three, Bostic had three points. Strobel added two points. The Clippers made one of six foul shots. Loyola put in a pair of threes and made half of a dozen foul shots.
Against MCW, Carson Lyons scored from the baseline for the game’s first basket, but the Mavericks posted the next nine points.
Strobel hit a pair of buckets, and Johnson scored inside after a steal to pull the Clippers within a point, 9-8. MCW scored again, but with a Lyons three, the game was deadlocked at 11.
MCW scored from the floor, but Bode Bartell sunk a three. The Clipper advantage was short lived though as the Mavericks went on an 11-point run for a 24-14 lead.
As the half drew to a close, Strobel spun in a basket from the baseline, and Lyons made a quick steal in Clipper territory and layup, but the Clippers trailed 29-18 at the break.
Scoring the first eight points of the second half, the Mavericks extended their lead. Bartell put in a fadeaway jumper to break up the rally, but MCW stole and scored and scored the next three points too to double up on the Clippers 40-20.
Mason Kluntz put in an outside shot and a foul basket, but the Mavericks stole and rebounded to extend their lead, 48-23. After Johnson hit a jumper down the stretch, Nathan Seeman highlighted the Clipper effort when he closed out the game with a pair of threes.
Lyons, who only played in the first half, led the effort with seven points. Strobel and Seeman each added six points. Bartell posted five points, Johnson had four points, and Kluntz contributed three points.
The Clippers had four threes and made one of five foul shots. MCW had no threes and was 10 of 19 from the foul line.
The Clipper B-squad boys return to action on Friday when they travel to Glenville.
Carson Lyons sets up for a shot against MCW.
Under the watch of an MCW defender, Nathan Strobel moves toward the basket.
Jordan Schmidt looks to the basket as a pair of Loyola defenders move in.
Nathan Strobel leaps for a pass during the game against the Crusaders.
Kale Kelley finds himself surrounded by a trio of Crusaders.
Brady Bostic dribbles over the three-point arc as Loyola defenders keep guard.
Alex Johnson escapes a pair of Loyola defenders.