BOYS
Splitting a week of action with a home tuneup game after facing the number two team in 1A Div II, the Clifton-Clyde boys basketball team moves to 10-10 on the year, entering the week of the regular season.
Versus Smoky Valley Home Educators (SVHE), the Eagles won 53-38.
A 7-0 start for the Eagles put them in the driver’s seat to open the game, but a 5-2 SVHE spurt would put them back in the thick of things. SVHE would eventually get the lead down to one, 18-17, late in the first quarter, but a Luke Nobert layup made it 20-17 to end the first quarter.
The second quarter would be a defensive battle, with the Eagles keeping SVHE off the board completely, but SVHE would do their best to keep the Eagles from running away, holding them to only nine points in the quarter. Clifton-Clyde held a 29-17 lead entering halftime.
An 8-2 SVHE opening to the third quarter made it a two-possession game, 31-25, at halftime throughout the third quarter. Clifton-Clyde would close the quarter on a much-needed 9-0 run, to lead 40-25 entering the fourth quarter.
The game wouldn’t get below 10 points in favor of Clifton-Clyde as the Eagles were able to match SVHE’s scoring on the opposite end. Both teams scored 13 points in the quarter, as the Eagles paced to a 53-38 victory.
Luke Nobert led in scoring with 16 points, four rebounds, three assists and three steals.
Gage LeClair had 12 points, three rebounds and two steals.
Landon Begnoche had 10 points, five rebounds, three assists and two steals.
Versus number two-ranked Hanover, the Eagles fell 64-48.
The Eagles took the lead 2-1 on their first possession thanks to a Gage LeClair layup, but Hanover responded with a three, kicking off a back-and-forth for the whole quarter. A Landon Begnoche layup to end the first quarter put the Eagles up 13-12.
Neither team could create ground in the second quarter, as both teams kept each other in check with both offenses matching each other’s output. Tied at 24, Luke Nobert hit a three to make it a 27-24 lead, but a Hanover layup would make it 27-26 Eagles entering halftime.
Hanover opened the second half with a 17-3 run to retake the lead, before an Ethan Sacco floater officially broke the run, as the Eagles trailed 43-32 with under three minutes to go. The Eagles would close on a 8-5 spurt capped by a Begnoche layup that cut the lead to single digits, 48-40, entering the fourth quarter.
The Wildcats were able to put away the Eagles in the fourth quarter, going on an 11-0 run to lead 59-40 before the Eagles finally scored with a LeClair three with 3:38 to go in the game. Both teams would score five points down the stretch, as Clifotn-Clyde would fall 64-48 to the Wildcats.
Ethan Sacco led in scoring with 18 points, four rebounds and a block.
Gage LeClair had nine points, two rebounds and two steals.
Luke Nobert had eight points and six rebounds.
GIRLS
Facing the number three team in 1A Division II on the road and with a tuneup game at home, the Clifton-Clyde girls basketball team split the week of action with a tale of two different games, moving to 14-8 on the year.
Versus Smoky Valley Home Educators (SVHE), the Eagles won 60-23.
The Eagles struck first on the opening possession, scoring on an Ellie Wurtz putback to put the Eagles on the board. An 11-3 opening gave the Eagles all the momentum as Clifton-Clyde led 22-9 after one quarter of play.
Clifton-Clyde kept their foot on the gas in the second quarter, pushing the lead to over 20 on a Sevy Wurtz layup as part of an 11-3 run. The Eagles held SVHE to only seven points in the quarter, as the Eagles led 40-16 at halftime.
Four straight scoring possessions to open the third quarter pushed the Eagles’ lead to 32, and as the Eagles shut out SVHE for zero points in the quarter Clifton-Clyde ended the quarter with 18 points, starting the running clock early as it was a 58-16 game entering the fourth quarter.
With said running clock going, SVHE was able to get some offense going, scoring seven points, but the Eagles were able to coast for the comfortable 60-23 victory.
Sevy Wurtz had 26 points, seven steals, four rebounds and four assists.
Calyn Baker had eight points, six assists, five steals and two rebounds.
Jayla Robbins had seven points and five rebounds.
Eight Eagles scored in the contest.
Versus number three-ranked Hanover, the Eagles fell 59-49.
After a nice start that saw the Eagles take a 5-0 lead, Hanover tied the game up at seven. Both teams put on an offensive show as they went blow for blow, but the Eagles were able to hold a 21-17 lead.
Hanover would take the lead 24-23 to start the second quarter, but the Eagles would rally and retake the lead 28-24. The back and forth would recommence, but a late three would put the Wildcats up 35-32 entering halftime.
The Eagles were able to take the lead 36-35 to start the second half, and both teams would go back and forth fighting for the lead. Clifton-Clyde was able to tie the game up at 43 on a Paige Joy inside jump shot with 3:20 to go in the third quarter, but a late Hanover bucket gave them a 45-43 lead entering the fourth.
A Sevy Wurtz midrange jumper with 5:42 left to go would make it a 50-45 Wildcat lead, and another one would make it 53-47 with 4:50 to go. A Joy jumper would break the drought with 47 seconds to go, making it a 58-49 game, but a late Hanover free throw ended the game 58-49.
Joy led in scoring with 22 points, three rebounds and three steals.
Sevy Wurtz had 20 points, six rebounds, four steals and two assists.
Ellie Wurtz had four points, three rebounds and an assist.
Calyn Baker had three points and a steal.
