Clear Lake Falconhoops

Clear Lake Comes Up Short at La Porte (43-41) 

The dubious preseason rankings had the LaPorte Bulldogs in the top five in the region largely because of the noticeable returning talent and quality coaching. Among the reasons great things are expected from the Bulldogs this season are 6’5” junior forward Randy Collins who was co-MVP of District 22-5A and all regional and 6’1” junior guard Drew Parker who was first team all district. Add to that first team all-district 6’4” junior forward Cedric Jones and most opponents would smell trouble when they enter the LaPorte gym.

Some expected the Falcons to get a real spanking on the Dogs home court despite LaPorte entering the game with a record of 3 wins and 4 losses. This record is due primarily to participation this past weekend in the McDonald’s Texas Invitational Tournament held in Pasadena. Now in its seventh year this tournament is, in my opinion, the best tournament in the state of Texas for numerous reasons. It is without question the best run tournament in the state and has contributed over $250,000 to the Pasadena schools in its brief history. 

In addition to the girls’ bracket, this premier tournament hosts 48 boys teams separated into two 24 team divisions. The stronger teams are placed in Div. 1 and the average/weaker teams are placed in Div. 2. Some coaches find this objectionable. Duncanville (#2 in the nation, #1 in the state going into the tourney) and several other state and regionally ranked teams were in Division 1 along with LaPorte.

The Bulldogs suffered tourney losses to Seven Lakes and defending state champs North Crowley, before victories over Richardson Berkner, Woodlands College Park, and Alief Elsik. The Dogs walked away with the Bronze Bracket Championship.  

Clear Lake has played in this tournament the last four years. Had the Clear Lake Falcons played in this tournament again this season they would have faced some quality opponents and would have had five more games under their belts before facing LaPorte. This also means the Falcons could have had as many as five losses on their record. Last year Lake had four narrow losses and one victory in this tournament.

Prior to today’s outing at LaPorte the Falcons had played one game. The Bulldogs had played seven. The difference showed despite the relative youth of the LaPorte starting squad. 

But the game was not the romp some predicted. When will they learn to stop underestimating the Clear Lake Falcons? It was a great defensive basketball game with almost the same amount of mistakes committed by each team. Talk about close. The game was tied 10 times and there were 7 lead changes.

The Bulldogs had done their homework by scouting Clear Lake at the Milby game and the Dogs impressive man-to-man defense appeared quicker and stronger than Lake’s while Lake’s offense seemed as strong or stronger than LaPorte’s at times. Regardless, the Falcons scored only one field goal and missed three free throws in the fourth quarter. In addition, errors by the Falcons late in the game prevented a come-from-behind victory. Give credit to a superb LaPorte defense to cause most of those missteps. The game’s leading scorer, Kyle Ashton (17 pts), had to sit down early in the third quarter due to foul trouble. That alone noticeably affected the outcome of the game. 

Both of these teams will improve over the course of this season and the same match-up late in the season would likely produce a different result from the 43-41 LaPorte victory. 

The Falcons next host Pasadena Memorial Mustangs at 2 p.m. Friday and do not forget the JV Tournament in Deer Park this weekend.

Action photos for this game can now be found at falconhoopscurrent . 

Individual Scoring:

Kyle Ashton 17,

Mark McCollum 6(4 steals), Jared Miller 5, Jacob Horton 4, Matt McCollum 3, Blake Gregorcyk 2, Brick Pomeroy 2 (5 steals), Jake McKnight 2