Clear Lake Falconhoops

Clear Brook Edges Clear Lake 61-59 In A Thriller February 15, 2005 Can you spell EXCITING? Tonight in the Clear Brook gym the Wolverines defeated the Clear Lake Falcons 61-59. It was only fitting that it took a terrifically exciting basketball game for the Brook bunch to win their third victory over Clear Lake in the history of Clear Brook basketball. The game tonight was as thrilling as everyone expected. The Falcons had previously beaten the Wolverines twice this season, once in the CCISD Tournament and in the first round of district play. To beat a team as good as Clear Brook three times in one season is a tough task. The rivalry inside the mostly packed gym seemed as big or bigger than the Clear Lake – Clear Creek showdown which is saying something. The officiating was provided by a junior ref (first year on the varsity level), an intermediate ref (6th year on the varsity level) and a seasoned veteran ref (more than 20 years on the varsity level). The quality of the refs was better than Lake has seen most of the season. In the first half, the refs did an excellent job. In the second half, unfortunately, it was not nearly as good. The refs took the game away from the players and then relinquished it back by refusing to make any calls for several minutes, no matter how obvious the violation. Then they took it away again. What’s up with that? In the first quarter Brook stepped out to a 12-7 lead. At the 2:43 mark after an awesome block by Gordon Abner, Scott Oswald came down and drained a trey to knot it at 12 all. Thirty-five seconds later Scott hit another three to put Lake ahead 15-14. The lead changed five times in the first quarter before ending at 19-16 in Lake’s favor. Both teams executed well and it was a game of real hustle throughout the quarter. Midway through the second quarter it was 19-27 as Clear Lake’s superior play began to add up. Lake extended their lead to 13 and closed the quarter up by 12. The Falcons showed determination and poise as they dominated the Clear Brook Wolverines on defense. Brook scored only 7 points (only 2 field goals) in the quarter. At the halftime break, second year Brook coach David Martinez changed his strategy and came out attacking the basket from the center of the paint and going right at Lake's big man, Mark Murphy, to get him in foul trouble. Midway through the quarter Lake was up by 12 when Brook turned on the afterburners. Out hustling Lake three times consecutively, they beat Lake back down the floor and scored three quick baskets in the paint and narrowed the lead to 41-45 in Lake’s favor with 1:47 remaining. With just over one minute remaining, Armie Lewis got the ball stolen the second time and Brook’s #21, Daryl Cloud, drove to the basket for a layup to tie the game at 45 all. The quarter ended at 47-45, Lake up by 2. Brook outscored Lake by 10 points in this quarter. With just over one minute remaining in the third quarter, it was as if the refs decided the fans and players had had enough good officiating and started making more bad calls or no-calls on both sides. At 6:45 remaining in the fourth quarter, Brook went ahead when Drew Washington hit a three to make it 48-47. This primed the see-saw pump and the lead changed hands with every possession. The lead changed 11 times in the final period. At 1:33 left in the game and Lake down by 2, 59-57, Armie Lewis coolly stepped to the free throw line and made Lake’s only two successful free throws of the fourth quarter to tie the game at 59. After Armie’s two free throws, Brook went to a slowdown game and played for one shot for one minute and twenty seconds. With ten seconds remaining they went to Drew Washington, Louisiana Tech signee, who drove straight at the basket with his signature shot, but missed. Justin Kurtz came up with a huge rebound and was knocked to the floor face down. With 10.45 seconds remaining and the game tied, Justin missed the front end of a one and one free throw, Clear Brook rebounded and Scott Oswald was called for a foul immediately. With Ryan Umeh at the line and 9.45 seconds remaining, he sunk both free throws and put the Wolverines ahead to win 61-59. Umeh had missed three previous free throw attempts. With almost 10 seconds remaining, Lake still had time to regroup and score but a last second desperation shot by Scott Oswald missed its mark. Lake only shot one free throw in the first three quarters. In the fourth quarter, they shot 5 but missed 3 and lost by 2. Clear Brook shot 10 free throws in the second half and made 6. The final two points of Clear Brook’s were made on free throws. The turning point in the ball game was at 2:47 remaining in the game when Mark Murphy was called for his fifth foul, a legitimate call. His third and fourth fouls he did not commit however. Mark had one foul assigned to him incorrectly and his fourth he never touched the player. It was simply a bad call. Unfortunate as it may be, it happens. Murphy’s presence had been a significant factor in the first half and a critical one in the second half due to his defense and timely rebounding. Once Murphy left the game, the game went from Clear Lake having only a tiny advantage to Brook having a slight advantage. Both teams played very well. Clear Lake slightly outplayed Brook in almost every aspect of the game except free throws and offensive rebounds (Brook beat Lake on the offensive boards 13 to 4). Neither team deserved to lose. If the officials had done their jobs as well as the players, it would have been an even greater basketball game. The refs called most of the second half of the game as if it were a college game instead of a high school contest. Who knows why? The playoff picture. Clear Brook finishes the regular season in second place with a district record of 10-2. Assuming a victory at home on Friday over Brazoswood, Clear Creek will finish in first place with a record of 11-1. Clear Lake (6-5 in district) faces Galveston Ball at home on Friday in their final game. A victory will keep the Falcons in third place allowing them to enter the playoffs. Other news: Lee Mazurek did not suit out for the Clear Brook game due to an injury sustained in practice last week. It is unlikely that he will play in the game against Galveston Ball. Scoring for the Falcons: Scott Oswald 19 (game high), Justin Kurtz 16, Gordon Abner 10, Mark Murphy 6, Kendrell Thompson 6 (6 rebounds), Armie Lewis 2 (6 rebounds, 5 assists). Score by quarter 19-35-47-59 Us 16-23-45-61 Them Scoring in each quarter 19-16-12-12 US 16-07-22-16 Them 2’s: 22 of 33 (67%) very good! 3’s: 4 of 14 (29%) not good enough Free throws: 3 of 6 (50%) not good enough