Clear Lake Falconhoops

 Clear Brook 63 - Clear Lake 55

          District 24-5A playoff positioning was on the line in tonight’s matchup. Clear Lake took on Clear Brook to clear up the three way tie that existed entering tonight’s game. The Falcons had a little extra motivation to win tonight with playoff opponents in sight. If Clear Lake won they would face #6 regionally ranked Fort Bend Bush, but if they lost #2 Fort Bend Hightower would be on their schedule. Clear Lake lost to Hightower last year in the first round of the playoffs by 10.          

Clear Brook started out hot behind a full arena and a fast pace. Lake’s Jacob Horton, who had a team high 17 points, hit a three in the first quarter. That three point basket was his 100^th three pointer of the season in just his 34^th game. Kyle Ashton, who finished with 14 points and nine rebounds, dished the ball off to Horton for another three to cut Brook’s lead to 15-12. Jared Miller finished the quarter with a 16 foot jump shot to make the score 16-14 Brook up.         

The game only got tighter as the second quarter heated up. A tip-in by Kyle Ashton tied things up at 18 apiece. This was the second of eight times the game would be tied. The next play Brook’s Aaron Miller threw Bimo Ghogomu an alley-oop pass that he finished with a dunk. The dunk electrified the crowd and ratcheted up the intensity to a completely different level. Jackson Hardage responded with a lay-up to quiet the crowd momentarily. The score remained close with it knotted at 29 at halftime.         

The pace of the first half was fast and the play was physical, Clear Lake needed to try to slow things down to have a chance against Clear Brook’s quicker pace. Mark McCollum gave Clear Lake the lead with a perfect post up-and-under move that put the score at 38-40. The Falcons had numerous points left on the court after missing one of two on their free throw attempts. The third quarter came to a close on an Aaron Miller three point basket that put Brook in the lead 46-43.         

The fourth quarter started with the teams separated by three points, a three pointer is what would decide the game. The final period was played at a much different pace with spurts of fast, run ‘n gun basketball, and other times of half court, designed play offenses. Clear Brook started out the quarter on a 6-2 run. In this close game where every point mattered that was significant. Coach McDonald took a timeout to slow down Clear Brook’s momentum. With 2:10 remaining and the Falcons down by six Mark McCollum made an acrobatic lay-up in which he was fouled as well. McCollum drained the freebie to trim the deficit to four points. The very next possession Aaron Miller came down the court and drilled a three pointer that sealed the deal for Clear Brook. Lake lost by the final score of 63-55.           

In a closely fought game such as this free throws are even more significant. Lake shot 3 of 6 in the game and Brook shot 13 of 21.

          Tonight’s loss brings an even tougher test on Tuesday in the bi-district round of the playoffs. #2 (in the Greater Houston Area) Fort Bend Hightower went 13-0 in District 23-5A, a district which also sported the # 6 ranked team in Fort Bend Bush. Clear Lake will play Hightower for the second straight year in the playoffs, but as Coach McDonald put it “Look at March Madness. Anything can happen. You just have to play the game.”

Martin Dehlinger

Action photos of this game will be posted by Saturday noon. 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 11 (3 rebs., 1 blocked shot)

Kyle Ashton 14 (9 rebounds)

Matt McCollum (8 assists, 2 steals, 1 CD)

Jacob Horton 17 (4 rebounds)

Blake Gregorcyk

Nick Arrington - did not play

Brick Pomeroy

Jake McKnight

Jackson Hardage 4

Jared Miller 9 (3 rebs.)