Clear Lake Falconhoops

TENACIOUS FALCONS FALL TO NORTH SHORE IN QUADRUPLE OVERTIME

(The write-up for this game is lengthy and wordy. For this, I apologize. It is not often one gets to witness a quadruple overtime game).

Until Wednesday night the Clear Lake Falcons had not played an overtime game this season. Surely they have given their fans several exciting games already, but no overtime games. Looks like they were saving up for a doozy. On an evening when the visiting teams and many fans had to overcome a thunderstorm that dumped a deluge of rain on the Houston area and the resultant street flooding that delayed team buses for almost one hour, the hearty crowd who overcame the weather to watch their team play the annual non-district match-up between the Falcons and the North Shore Mustangs were rewarded with a once-in-a-lifetime basketball game.

The Mustangs are expected by many roundball aficionados to win their district. They came in as heavy favorites due primarily to their three returning all-district lettermen. That just increases the determination of the tenacious Falcons who repeatedly demonstrate they are so much better than many of the purported experts seem to regard them (some polls are beginning to indicate some respect for the Falcons so stay tuned).

First Quarter
The game started out with Falcon Jimmy Witten getting his first foul in the first twenty seconds of the ball game. Oh no. Here we go again! Witten, a junior, has already won the unofficial award for having more unjustified fouls called on him this season than any Falcon in the last decade. What is it about these refs and Witten? Why do they seem so inclined to call so many fouls on him? Sure he commits some of them. Any big man does and the refs like to call fouls on the big men. But this has gone on too long.

Sorry for the digression. The game stayed close in the first quarter with North Shore up by 3. Throughout the game North Shore scored more easily than Clear Lake due to the accurate outside shooting of the Mustangs Chad Tyler(#10, 31 points) and superb inside play of their big man, 6’ 6” Kenneth Clayton (25 points) and Sam Young (19 points).  North Shore has good team quickness, superb defense, noticeably good offensive rebounding, and excellent, unselfish teamwork combined with above average shooting from the field. Teams like this are very difficult to beat.

Second Quarter
In the second quarter Lake kept it close and narrowed the gap to 2 ,24-26, at mid-quarter when Jimmy Witten made two free throws. With two minutes remaining in the first half, Justin Kurtz made a bullet pass in traffic to Armie Lewis who made his layup. This brought it to 26-30, Lake down by 4. The foul count was 8 (Lake) and 4 at this point. A last second basket by Armie brought it to 28-34 to close out the half.

Third Quarter
After some Lake strategy changes at halftime, the Falcons tied the score at 36 with five minutes left when Kendrell Thompson hit a three from the top of the key. This was the first of ten times the game would be tied. The two teams traded baskets throughout the quarter and the score remained close. With one minute left in the quarter the score was tied at 42 when Armie got a rebound and drove down for a contested layup. Lake gained the lead at the end of the quarter when Justin hit two free throws to put Lake up 44-42 with 26 seconds remaining.

Fourth Quarter
In the first half of the fourth quarter the Falcons held on to a narrow lead of two to four points. Lake would score then the Mustangs would score. Kendrell hit two free throws with 2:58 remaining to give Lake a 58-53 lead, their widest margin of the game so far. With a one point lead, 62-61 with 1:21 left in regulation play, Lake started a stall but the North Shore quickness would not be denied. In the last minute it appeared that Clear Lake would win the game. With 35 seconds remaining Kendrell stole an errant pass and drove to the basket but was fouled. His free throws made it 66-61. Some Falcon fans were beginning to relax?? Two more free throws by Armie Lewis made it 68-62 before a Mustang basket made it 68-64 (Lewis scored 18 points in the second half). With 17 seconds remaining. a foul called on Jimmy Witten, his fifth, put them at the line to make it 68-65. Two free throws by Armie missed their mark before North Shore drove down and nailed a three to tie the game with 7.9 seconds left. Lake had a final chance to score with enough time but could not close the deal. Final score in regulation was tied at 68.

First Overtime
After an initial basket by North Shore in the first overtime period, Armie drove down for a layup. Then another.72-75. Another basket by the Mustangs make it 72-77. With 46 seconds left North Shore missed both free throws, got the rebound but was called for traveling. A pass from Armie to Jon Gilmer in the paint made it 74-77 when Gilmer made a critical basket. North Shore’s #10, Chad Tyler finally missed a free throw but made the second, 74-78. With 17 seconds remaining Justin Kurtz hit a relaxed trey from the left corner like it was just a scrimmage. 77-78. The Mustang’s Tyler missed another free throw but made the second again. 77-79. With the clock ticking the final seconds away, Justin launched another three point attempt from the corner but missed when he is fouled with 3.9 seconds left. Justin hit two of the three free throws to put the game into another overtime period.

Second Overtime
A free throw by Kendrell and two by Andy Leveque brought the score to 84-85 with 1:50 left in the period. With 36 seconds left Justin got fouled when he drove the right side of the hoop with the score 84-85. Justin made the second free throw to tie the game at 85. With 3.8 seconds remaining North Shore drove the right side of their basket which had been working well for them all night. A humongous monster block by Justin re-invigorated the already standing crowd and put the game into another overtime with the score at 85.

Third Overtime
Justin Kurtz, jumping center against a taller Kenneth Clayton whose long arms seemed to reach to the sky all night, was out-jumped at the game tip off and at the start of the first two overtime periods. But not this time. Kurtz controlled the ball. Kendrell got the ball and drove for a layup to start the period. Then a steal by Kendrell and a layup by Armie made it 89-85. At the 1:23 mark, Andy made one of two free throws to make it 90-88. A basket by Andy made it 92-90. North Shore scored to tie at 92. A last second Hail Mary three attempt by Justin missed the mark. How about another overtime?

Fourth Overtime
Back in the day in high school basketball, after three overtime periods the game went into sudden death which means whichever team scored first won. Nowadays, the overtime periods continue until the fans hearts just cannot take it any more, the players and refs all collapse on the court from exhaustion, or the female score keepers rebel for want of a potty break.

The final overtime period was all North Shore. Having already demonstrated incredible stamina, you had to wonder just how much more these players (from both teams) had to give. The fatigue was evident and the energy still being displayed was impressive. In the first two minutes of the period North Shore pulled ahead after scoring seven unanswered points. 92-99. Lake’s shots fell short but a lone free throw by Kendrell made it 93-101. With 1:30 remaining Kendrell hit a three from the corner to make it 96-101. Then a superb defensive full court press by Lake prevented the Mustangs from advancing the ball across mid court so Lake regained control of the ball but Lake’s try for basket missed. With North Shore making their free throws and shots, the Mustangs increased the lead to 10. A final, uncontested dunk by Kendrell brought the score to 98-106. The Falcons went 2 of 8 in the final overtime.

Summary
This was an historic night in Clear Lake basketball. In my recollection there has never been a quadruple overtime boys’ varsity game played by Clear Lake High School anywhere. This game allowed two very well rounded teams to display their talent and stamina in a game that was delayed almost one hour due to bad weather (not to mention a power outage in the ninth grade center).

This game represented what Clear Lake basketball is all about. Rising to the occasion to meet a formidable adversary. Respect for your teammates and for your competition. Doing your very best. Working together. Working your hardest for the success of your team and your school. Digging down deep to give just a little more when there may not be any more left in the tank. Doing it all with class.

Despite the game resulting in a loss, it would be a mistake to overlook the positive aspects of such a contest. There is a lot more that comes from games with worthy opponents than just a mark in the “W column”.  Pre-district games such as this are meant to help prepare the team for district play. In several aspects of the team’s development, this game went a long way toward doing just that.

There are those among the basketball fan populous who live for the overtime game. The only thing better than an exciting, close game of high school boys basketball that goes right down to the wire is one that plays into overtime before your team wins. For some it seems if one overtime period is great, then two overtimes is even greater.

There are also those fans who wish every game would be decided in triple overtime. Certainly not coaches whose ulcers could not stand the strain, but stouthearted fans who seem to feel they get more of their money’s worth with overtimes. For most fans, even the die hards who attend way too many basketball games, a four overtime game is a dream that is usually never fulfilled.

As a long time fan of Clear Lake basketball, I would like to express my gratitude to this team for what I witnessed in this game: the effort expended, the mastery of the game, the obvious commitment and dedication, and the character, determination and will to win displayed by a team of developing young players. For those of us who want every game to be decided in triple overtime, thank you for fulfilling this dream. Years after we move to the new Krueger Field House and the current gym becomes a practice facility filled with shadows and memories, they will still be talking about this game and the memory of Armie’s 33 points and, oh yeah, Justin’s awesome shot block that sent us into the third overtime.

Individual scoring:
Armie Lewis 33 (game high)(7 assists), Kendrell Thompson 19, Justin Kurtz 15 (1 NBA styled blocked shot),  Andy Leveque 11, Jimmy Witten 10 (10 rebounds),
Jon Gilmer 7 (6 offensive rebounds), Brandon Wynn 3, RJ Turner 2

FALCON STATS	FG made	FG attempts	%
2's	29	62	50%
3's	5	24	21%
free throws	25	38	66%

SCORE BY PERIOD	1	2	3	4	OT1	OT2	OT3	OT4
Clear Lake	13	28	44	68	79	85	92	98
North Shore	16	34	42	68	79	85	92	106

LINESCORE	1	2	3	4	OT1	OT2	OT3	OT4	Final
North Shore	16	18	8	26	11	6	7	14	106
Clear Lake	13	15	16	24	11	6	7	6	98

REBOUNDS	US	THEM
Offensive	16
Defensive	21