Clear Lake Falconhoops

Clear Lake 67 - Brazoswood 62          

The Clear Lake Falcons faced the Brazoswood Buccaneers tonight at Kruger Field house.  Similar to the Falcons’ previous games, this one came down to the last few possessions. Tonight’s game was a battle for staying in playoff contention, and for Brazoswood a matter of climbing back into it. 

          Brazoswood showed right from the tip-off that they were not intimidated by the Falcons’ home court advantage. The Buc’s jumped out to an early 8-2 lead. Lake’s Team Captain Kyle Ashton, who had a team high 14 points, stopped the run with a reverse lay-up. Later in the quarter Kyle’s fellow co-Captain, Mark McCollum, finished off the quarter with a tough spin move lay-up to end the quarter. Mark finished with 13 points and 4 steals. Clear Lake trailed 12-16 after the first quarter.

           The second quarter started off with an unusual sequence of events after Brazoswood attempted to play six players. The officials caught it and called a technical foul.  Matt McCollum made one of two and finished the game with 13 points. Matt wanted to make up for his missed free throw and  he got the opportunity on the next possession. Mark drove the baseline and dished the ball to his twin brother for a three point bucket that tied the game at 16 apiece. Lake continued their mini-run with a nice handoff from Jackson Hardage to Kyle for the lay-up. Sixth man Nick Arrington drained a three with 3:43 to go to put the Falcons up 23-21. After a series of traded baskets Jacob Horton finished off the half with a three to even the score at 30 entering halftime.

          In a game that the Falcons absolutely needed to win to stay in playoff contention, the score was not easy on the Falcon faithful being tied after two quarters. Matt McCollum, who has had a string of very solid games, started the half off with a four point play. Matt’s comments on his shot.” After I hit the shot I heard the whistle and the ref told me to go to the free throw line. That was my first four point play ever.”  The rest of the quarter was a series of traded baskets. Mark McCollum drove to the basket and passed the ball to Jackson Hardage for an easy lay-up. The Falcons grabbed the lead with 2:14 remaining in the third by the score of 44-43. The Falcons never trailed after those two points. 

          The final period started with Clear Lake leading by the score of 48-45.  Mark McCollum jumped right into the action grabbing an offensive rebound leading to a strong put-back lay-up. Mark continued his solid game by penetrating the baseline and finishing with a lay-up. With three minutes remaining and Lake winning by three points, The Falcons turned to its leading scorer Kyle Ashton who scored the team’s next five points. Following his own two made free throws, Matt McCollum stole Brazoswood’s inbounds pass and like in the previous game sealed the deal with a steal. Matt was asked what he has been doing to force turnovers in the final minutes on opposing teams. “I just know that they are under a lot of pressure with the situation and when I get down and play tough D, they become overwhelmed and I take advantage.” 

         Clear Lake is currently tied with Clear Brook for third place, after Brook lost to Clear Springs at home tonight in overtime. Friday Clear Lake plays a Clear Creek team that is having a down year. But don’t expect an easy win out of the 1-8 team in district as they are playing at home. Every game for the Falcons seems to be getting increasingly important with playoff seeding being sorted out as the regular season winds down with only 5 district games left.

In other District 24 action: 

Clear Springs upset Clear Brook 80-74 in overtime.

Galveston Ball over Dickinson 71-67

Alvin defeated Clear Creek 64-62.

Action photos of this game should be posted by Wednesday at 9 p.m. To view photos of any game this season, go to  Current Season Photos   . Use the Browser's "BACK" or "BACK Arrow" to return to this website.

Mark McCollum 13 (4 steals)

Kyle Ashton 14 (3 blocks)

Matt McCollum 13

Jacob Horton 12

Nick Arrington 3 (5 assists)

Jake McKnight - did not play due to injury of wrist in Dickinson game.

Jackson Hardage 10 (5 rebs.)

Jared Miller 2